Church of Nyange 1994: parish priest Athanase Seromba convicted of genocide
In April 1994 Tutsi sought protection from the genocide in the church of the parish of Nyange. The Catholic priest working there, Athanase Seromba, agreed to the decision to destroy the church and gave directions to the driver of the bulldozer. At least 1,500 people died. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda convicted him by final judgment of genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Deaths
at least 1,500(counted, Tutsi in the church of Nyange)Evidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer
„resulted in the death of at least 1,500 Tutsi refugees“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber). Original
Athanase Seromba (Catholic priest of the parish of Nyange)
What happened to the people
Who was affected? Victims and numbers
He agreed to the authorities' decision to destroy the church, gave the bulldozer driver directions and encouraged him; at least 1,500 Tutsi lost their lives.
Evidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Nr. 3
„accepted their decision to destroy the Nyange church, which resulted in the death of at least 1,500 Tutsi refugees“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Nr. 3.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Nr. 3
„he gave advice to a bulldozer driver and by his utterances encouraged him to destroy the church“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Nr. 3.
Original
How were they charged and sentenced?
On 12 March 2008 the Appeals Chamber found that he had committed genocide and extermination as a crime against humanity, set aside the sentence of 15 years in prison and imposed life imprisonment.
Evidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Deckblatt
„Judgement of: 12 March 2008“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Deckblatt.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Urteilsformel
„Athanase Seromba committed genocide as well as extermination as a crime against humanity, by virtue of his role in the destruction of the church in Nyange Parish“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Urteilsformel.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Urteilsformel
„QUASHES, unanimously, the sentence of fifteen years’ imprisonment and ENTERS, by majority, Judge Liu dissenting, a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of Athanase Seromba’s life“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Urteilsformel.
Original
What happened to those affected?
The court found it proven that Seromba forbade the Tutsi refugees in his church to fetch food from the parish banana plantation and refused to celebrate Mass for them, although the refugees were in constant danger of death; he continued to celebrate Mass in the oratory. On 13 April 1994 he dismissed four Tutsi employees of the parish. One of them, Patrice, was killed by attackers the next day after Seromba had turned him away from the presbytery. The Appeals Chamber completely rejected Seromba's objections to the finding concerning Patrice. It did not examine the findings concerning food and Mass any further because it set aside all findings on serious bodily or mental harm.
Evidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III, Nr. 350
„such as prohibiting the refugees from getting food from the banana plantation, or refusing to celebrate mass“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), Nr. 350.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III, Nr. 107
„Athanase Seromba refused to celebrate mass for Tutsi refugees in Nyange church“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), Nr. 107.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III, Nr. 106
„Tutsi refugees in Nyange church knew that they were in constant danger of death“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), Nr. 106.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III, Nr. 106
„particularly in view of the fact that he continued to celebrate mass in the oratory as from 11 April 1994“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), Nr. 106.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III, Nr. 114
„Athanase Seromba dismissed four Tutsi employees from the parish, including a certain Patrice, who, upon returning the following day, was killed by attackers after having been turned back from the presbytery by Seromba“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), Nr. 114.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Nr. 87
„This ground of appeal is dismissed in its entirety.“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Nr. 87.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Nr. 68
„quashed all findings related to serious bodily or mental harm, the Appeals Chamber need not address any alleged errors underpinning those findings“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Nr. 68.
Original
Witness accounts and records
Witness Witness testimony on the order to destroy the church (judgment at first instance)
Seromba told him: 'you can destroy it. There are many of us. We can rebuild it. When there are demons in the church, it should be destroyed'.
Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III: The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), Nr. 213.
Original
Background
Course of events
In April 1994 Athanase Seromba was a priest of the parish of Nyange; the court took into account his position as the Catholic priest in charge and the associated breach of trust.
Evidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Nr. 2
„he was a priest at Nyange parish, Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Nr. 2.
OriginalEvidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Anm. 153
„Catholic priest in charge of Nyange parish and the betrayal of trust associated with this status“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Anm. 153.
Original
The acts took place on 12, 14, 15 and 16 April 1994.
Evidence: Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer, Nr. 31
„by his words and actions on 12, 14, 15, and 16 April 1994“
The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), Nr. 31.
Original
Original documents to read
Judgment
Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Berufungskammer: The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-A, Judgement (Appeals Chamber), 12 March 2008.
Original(retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
Judgment
Internationaler Strafgerichtshof für Ruanda (ICTR), Strafkammer III: The Prosecutor v. Athanase Seromba, Case No. ICTR-2001-66-I, Judgement (Trial Chamber III), 13 December 2006.
Original(retrieved 11 Oct 2026)
Kirchenakte