Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza was born in 1950 in Mutura commune, Gisenyi prefecture .

At the time of the events refered to in the indictment, he was a prominent member of CDR and a President of the CDR in Gisenyi prefecture, Director of political affairs in the ministry of foreign affairs, a member of the Comité d=Initiative of Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines s.a, and a senior officer involved in the administration of its radio station in Kigali, Rwanda.Jean Bosco Barayagwiza was arrested in Cameroun by the Camerounian authorities on 27.3.1996 and he was later transfered to Arusha on 19.11.1997.