CNN – The conviction and sentencing of Colonel Theoniste Bagasora is a milestone as it marks the first time those responsible for the Rwandan genocide have been brought to Justice. Bagasora was accused of masterminding the 100-day terror spree that left 800,000 to 1 million Rwandans dead in 1994. Bagasora was Cabinet Director at the Ministry of Defense. He took over the political and military leadership after the plane carrying Rwanda’s president was shot down in April 1994, which set off the genocide.

Today, the judge at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania, read the chilling charges and the verdict: guilty of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Sentence: life in prison.

Two other military officers were found guilty of the same charges and also sentenced to life in prison. One was acquitted.  

In 1994, men women and children across the country were hacked, clubbed or shot to death, including Rwanda’s prime minister, and 10 Belgian U.N. peacekeepers. The head of the U.N. Force, former Canadian general Romeo Dallaire called Bagasora the “kingpin” and said he had threatened his life with a handgun. Dallaire had been warned by his informants that extremist Hutus, like Bagasora, were planning the genocide and he tried repeatedly to warn his bosses at the U.N., but the world looked away and did nothing to stop the killings.

The wheels of justice have been slow to turn. It has taken six years to reach today’s verdict. At one time tens of thousands of Rwandans were swept up and thrown in jail but there was no way that country could process all the accused.

A system of community courts called ga-cha-chas have brought thousands of perpetrators face to face with their victims’ families to describe their crimes and beg forgiveness. National reconciliation is Rwanda’s official policy. Perhaps that is a step closer today, as the International Court finally brings to justice those at the top of the chain of command.