Eric Nshimiye, an Ohio engineer and father-of-four, faces charges related to his alleged involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, including murder and falsifying refugee status.
Eric Nshimiye, a 52-year-old Ohio engineer and father-of-four, has been arrested and charged with allegations related to his hidden past as a war criminal involved in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Accusations against him include his active role in tracking and murdering Tutsis during the genocide, notably a 14-year-old boy and his mother, using weapons such as nail-studded clubs and machetes. Nshimiye, who sought refuge in the United States in 1995, is said to have concealed his atrocities to obtain refugee status falsely.
Prosecutors highlight his involvement with the genocidal youth militia Interahamwe and charge him with falsifying information, obstructing justice, and perjury, particularly pointing to his denial of any role in the genocide during the 2019 trial of another genocidaire. The revelations have shocked neighbors in Ohio, who knew Nshimiye as a congenial professional, unaware of his brutal past.
Special Agent Michael Krol of Homeland Security Investigations condemned Nshimiye’s alleged efforts to conceal his past crimes, emphasizing the gravity of his actions. Nshimiye faces serious charges that, if convicted, could lead to significant prison sentences and fines. He is scheduled to appear in federal court in Boston, with his defense attorney David Johnson not immediately commenting on the case. The charges against Nshimiye bring attention to the ongoing impacts of the Rwandan genocide, which claimed around 800,000 lives over 100 days, targeting Tutsis and political opponents.
