Theoneste Bagosora died in prison in Mali
Theoneste Bagosora, the Rwandan military leader described as the 'Heinrich Himmler of Rwanda', has died in a prison in Mali where he was serving a sentence for masterminding the slaughter of 800,000 people during the 1994 genocide.
Bagosora, who died aged 80, was serving a 35-year sentence after being found guilty of being in charge of the troops and militia who butchered minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 100 days in 1994.
His son Achille Bagosora announced the death in a Facebook post: 'Rest in Peace, Papa.'
'Theoneste Bagosora died in a hospital in Mali yesterday (Saturday) late morning,' said Abubacarr Tambadou, registrar for the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals, which oversees prosecution of those responsible for the genocide.
Bagosora was jailed for life in 2008 for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, though his sentence was reduced to 35 years on appeal in 2011.
The Rwandan genocide saw 800,00 ethic Tutsis, Hutu moderates and their political allies massacred in 100 days of bloodshed.
Bagosora died in prison where he was serving a 35-year sentence for masterminding the slaughter of 800,000 people during the 1994 genocide
Known as a hardliner within the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development party of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, Bagosora in 1993 was appointed cabinet director in the defense ministry and took control of military and political affairs in the country.
Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, head of United Nations peacekeepers in Rwanda at the time, described Bagosora as the 'kingpin' behind the genocide.
Once a close ally of then President Juvenal Habyarimana - they both came from the same northwestern province of Gisenyi - he later reportedly held a grudge after being passed over for promotion to general.
The Rwandan genocide saw 800,00 ethic Tutsis, Hutu moderates and their political allies massacred in 100 days of bloodshed