France’s highest court has blocked the extradition of three men to Rwanda, where they would have faced charges relating to the 1994 genocide.
The French Court of Cassation overturned a previous ruling by the appeals court, which ordered the extradition of Claude Muhayimana and Innocent Musabyimana to Rwanda. A third man, Laurent Serubuga, who was Rwanda's deputy army chief-of-staff during the genocide, also had his extradition request rejected by the court.
The decision has left Rwanda disappointed, with Rwandan Prosecutor General Richard Muhumuza saying,
"The denial of extradition doesn't take away France's obligation under international law to try persons accused of genocide and other heinous crimes."