The Rwanda tribunal sentenced a former interior minister to 30 years in prison. Callixte Kalimanzira was found guilty of tricking thousands of people to hide on a hill before they were killed by extremist Hutu militia.

The Tanzania-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), set up to try masterminds of Rwanda's 1994 genocide, said Callixte Kalimanzira was guilty of genocide and direct and public incitement to commit genocide.

In its Judgement, the judges noted that on 23 April 1994, Kalimanzira went to Kabuye hill in Butare préfecture with soldiers and policemen, where thousands of Tutsi refugees were attacked and slaughtered.
 

Kalimanzira’s role in luring Tutsis to Kabuye hill with promises of food and protection and his assistance in providing armed reinforcements substantially contributed to the overall attack. 

In addition, the judges found Kalimanzira guilty of direct and public incitement to commit genocide on several occasions, including at the Jaguar roadblock, the Kajyanama roadblock, and the Nyabisagara football field on different dates in April 1994, and at the Gisagara marketplace at the end of May 1994.

The Tribunal took custody of Kalimanzira, who voluntarily surrendered, on 8 November 2005. Kalimanzira’s trial started on 5 May 2008. The Prosecution closed its case on 30 June 2008, after having called 24 witnesses. The Defence case commenced on 17 November 2008; 42 witnesses were called,
including the Accused. 

The court had until the end of last year, to complete all trials, and until 2010 to hear all appeals before winding up. However cases have spilt over and the ICTR says it is working hard to finish hearing evidence in all trials by the end of 2009. 

Hutu militias butchered 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus in the 100-day genocide.