Rwanda’s High Court has sentenced a former mayor to life in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide.

Ladislas Ntaganzwa – who was arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo five years ago – was found guilty of personally leading a series of massacres of Tutsi civilians, including an attack on a church where thousands had taken shelter.

The former mayor of southern Nyakizu was also accused of orchestrating the rape of many women.

Earlier this month, investigators tracking genocide suspects had a major breakthrough when the alleged financier of the genocide, Félicien Kabuga, was arrested in France.

He is due to be tried at a tribunal in Tanzania.

It emerged last week that another top suspect, former Defence Minister Augustin Bizimana, had actually been dead for several years.