Dafroza Mukarumongi Gauthier died on October 3, 2026, following an illness.
In a statement, the Government of Rwanda said Dafroza had demonstrated exceptional commitment to the pursuit of justice and accountability for those responsible for the Genocide against the Tutsi.
“The dedication she demonstrated in searching for evidence and bringing to justice those who participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi earned her the Order of Friendship — Igihango in 2017. Her determination and unwavering commitment to preserving history and pursuing truth and justice are an enduring legacy she leaves behind,” the statement said.
The Government also extended its condolences to her husband, Alain Gauthier, who worked alongside her in the same cause, as well as to her family, friends and all those who regarded her work as an example.
Dafroza Mukarumongi Gauthier and her husband, Alain Gauthier, founded the Collectif des parties civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR), an organisation that gathered evidence and testimonies used in efforts to prosecute genocide suspects living in France.
Their commitment to the cause led President Paul Kagame to award them the Order of Friendship — Igihango on November 18, 2017. The honour is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to strengthening friendship and cooperation between Rwanda and other countries, as well as promoting Rwanda and the dignity of Rwandans internationally.
Dafroza was born in Butare in 1954. She studied chemistry at university in France and met Alain Gauthier when he was working as a French teacher in Rwanda. They later married and settled in France, where they were living when the Genocide against the Tutsi took place. They had three children.
The Genocide against the Tutsi left Dafroza with a profound personal loss, as about 80 members of her extended family were killed.
In February 1994, she was in Kigali, but her mother advised her to return to France as the security situation continued to deteriorate. Dafroza tried to persuade her relatives to leave Rwanda, but they were unable to do so. That was the last time she saw them.
After the Genocide, Dafroza and her husband committed themselves to ensuring that those responsible would not continue to live freely. They began their pursuit of justice for genocide victims in 1996 and founded the CPCR in 2001.
Their work included tracing genocide suspects living in France, travelling to Rwanda to gather evidence from locations where crimes had been committed, meeting survivors and detainees, and preparing case files for submission to judicial authorities.
Dafroza also played an important role in translating Rwandan-language documents used in court proceedings into French. Her knowledge of Rwanda, its language and its history helped in the collection and interpretation of evidence.
Their pursuit of justice required significant personal sacrifices, including financial resources and time that could otherwise have been spent with their children.
In addition to pursuing genocide suspects, the couple visited schools and universities to educate young people about the history of the Genocide, contributing to efforts to preserve its memory and counter genocide denial.
Dafroza viewed justice as a way of restoring dignity to the victims of the Genocide. She explained that trials helped keep their names alive and ensure that people knew who they were and what happened to them, rather than reducing them to mere numbers.
