His case resurfaced during the 31st commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, held at Nyamagumba Hill in the former Mabanza and Rutsiro communes of the Kibuye prefecture, where over 9,600 Tutsi were killed.

On April 13, 1994, mass killings ensued on Nyamagumba hill, formerly known as Gitwa. The massacre involved the direct participation of Father Mendelo Gabriel, who was head of Crête Congo Nil Parish at the time.

Philippe Niyonsenga, President of IBUKA in Rutsiro, told IGIHE that it is so heartbreaking that the priest has never been brought to justice.

“It is extremely painful that Father Mendelo has not been arrested, despite his central role in the killings of Tutsi who had fled to Nyamagumba hill, and also in the 1992 killings of Abagogwe who sought refuge in Rutsiro commune,” Niyonsenga said.

He explained that the priest had forced the Abagogwe to sign documents claiming the 1992 killings were “ordinary unrest.”

Niyonsenga added that Mendelo was a member of the extremist CDR party, which allowed him to collaborate openly with the killers. His influence contributed directly to the massacre of more than 9,600 people on Nyamagumba hill.

On April 12, 1994, the day before the massacre, Mendelo allegedly sent someone to count the number of Tutsi taking refuge on the hill.

“The goal was to know how many they were, so they could mobilize more Interahamwe militias from other areas and come finish off the Tutsi, who were still putting up resistance,” Niyonsenga said.

Philippe Niyonsenga, President of IBUKA in Rutsiro, says that it is so heartbreaking that the priest has never been brought to justice.

Indeed, Interahamwe militias were then assembled from areas of Gisenyi, Nyamyumba, Kayove, Rutsiro, Ramba, Satinsyi, Giciye, and Mabanza, which bordered the hill.

“As IBUKA, we believe he must be brought before a court of law, especially since he was already convicted in absentia by the Gacaca courts,” Niyonsenga stressed.

He called on the Government of Rwanda to help ensure international arrest warrants are issued so that the priest can be tried in person, delivering justice to the survivors.

Emmanuel Uwimana, a survivor from Nyamagumba Hill, also spoke out about Mendelo.

“Mendelo Gabriel was an extremely wicked man. He even wore CDR party caps. What he did is well known, and he was sentenced to life by Gacaca courts. He has since changed names multiple times. The fact that he hasn’t been arrested and held accountable is an open wound for us. We urge the authorities to help ensure he is arrested,” Uwimana said.

The Genocide memorial at Nyamagumba, was built on the hill formerly known as Gitwa, where a Catholic chapel once stood. That presence gave many Tutsi hope when they fled there.

Trusting Father Mendelo as a priest, they disclosed their numbers, only for that trust to lead to betrayal, and the slaughter of more than 9,600 people.

Emmanuel Uwimana, a survivor from Nyamagumba Hill, also spoke out about Mendelo.

Father Mendelo Gabriel, a French priest sentenced to life imprisonment by Gacaca courts for his major role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.