Augustin Bizimungu is a former general in the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR). In 1994, he briefly served as chief of staff of the army. During this time, he trained the soldiers and guerrillas

Guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...

 who carried out the Rwandan Genocide

Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people in the small East African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of approximately 100 days through mid-July, over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate...

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Bizimungu was born in Byumba préfecture, Mukaranje Commune, Mugina Secteur, Nyange Cellule, Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

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An ethnic Hutu

Hutu

The Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...

, Bizimungu held the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in the FAR on 6 April 1994. That day, following the death of army chief of staff Déogratias Nsabimana in a plane crash alongside President Juvénal Habyarimana

Juvénal Habyarimana

Juvénal Habyarimana was the third President of the Republic of Rwanda, the post he held longer than any other president to date, from 1973 until 1994. During his 20-year rule he favored his own ethnic group, the Hutus, and supported the Hutu majority in neighboring Burundi against the Tutsi...

, Bizimungu was promoted to Major-General and appointed as permanent chief of the army.

Upon fleeing the country following the RPF victory, he allegedly said "the RPF will rule over a desert."

On 12 April 2002, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is an international court established in November 1994 by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 955 in order to judge people responsible for the Rwandan Genocide and other serious violations of international law in Rwanda, or by Rwandan...

 (ICTR) issued an arrest warrant for Bizimungu, who was apparently working with the Angola

Angola

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...

n rebel movement UNITA

UNITA

The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola is the second-largest political party in Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought with the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola in the Angolan War for Independence and then against the MPLA in the ensuing civil war .The war was one...

. In August 2002, he was arrested by the Angolan government and taken to the U.N. War Crimes

War crime

War crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...

 Tribunal in Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

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The trial adjourned until September 2008, whereupon Bizimungu was tried along with fellow FAR officers Augustin Ndindiliyimana

Augustin Ndindiliyimana

- Background :Ndindiliyimana was born in Nyaruhengeri commune, Butare prefecture, Rwanda. He joined the Rwandan Armed Forces and, as of 1994, held the rank of Major General. On 2 September 1992 he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Gendarmerie nationale...

 (Chief of Staff of the National Gendarmerie), François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye

François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye

François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye is a former Rwandan soldier, who is chiefly known for his alleged role in the Rwandan Genocide.- Background and role in genocide :...

 (Commander of the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Rwandan Army) and Innocent Sagahutu

Innocent Sagahutu

Innocent Sagahutu is a former Rwandan soldier, who is chiefly known for his alleged role in the Rwandan Genocide.- Background and role in genocide :...

 (Second-in-Command of the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Rwandan Army). Bizimungu was sentenced to thirty years in prison for his part in the genocide on 17 May 2011.

Bizimungu is portrayed by Fana Mokoena

Fana Mokoena

Fana Mokoena is a South African actor.He is best known for his portrayal of Rwandan general Augustin Bizimungu in the 2004 film Hotel Rwanda. His most prominent role previous to this was as Dr. Mandla Sithole in the South African soap opera Generations....

 in the 2004 movie Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda is a 2004 American drama film directed by Terry George. It was adapted from a screenplay written by both George and Keir Pearson. Based on real life events which took place in Rwanda during the spring of 1994, the film stars Don Cheadle as hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, who attempts to...

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External links

• Trial Watch: Augustin Bizimungu