Théoneste Bagosora 1941 – 2021

Biography

Théoneste Bagosora was born on August 16, 1941, in Gisenyi, Rwanda. His life would become intertwined with one of the most tragic chapters in modern history. Over the decades following his birth in this lakeside town, Rwanda underwent profound political and social upheaval that would shape his path and legacy.

In his later years, Bagosora’s actions during Rwanda’s darkest period led to his conviction for genocide. This conviction marked him as a significant figure in the historical record of the Rwandan genocide, a tragedy that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and left deep scars on the nation and its people.

On September 25, 2021, Bagosora died in Bamako, Mali, at the age of 80, succumbing to cardiac arrest. His death concluded a life defined by the weight of history and judgment. His passing marked the end of a figure whose name remains connected to Rwanda’s painful past and its ongoing journey toward reconciliation and remembrance.