South African authorities have confirmed the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema, a top Rwandan genocide suspect, on Monday, June 14th. Kayishema was arrested in Cape Town, South Africa, after being on the run for over two decades.
Kayishema is accused of playing a key role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide that claimed the lives of over 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus. He was a former mayor of Kibuye, a town in western Rwanda, and is alleged to have orchestrated the massacre of Tutsis in the area.
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) indicted Kayishema in 1996 on charges of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity. However, he had been on the run since then, evading arrest and living under different identities in various countries.
The South African authorities acted on a request from the Rwandan government to arrest Kayishema. The Rwandan government has been pursuing Kayishema’s arrest for years and has been working with Interpol to track him down.
The arrest of Kayishema is a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Rwandan genocide. It sends a strong message that those who commit crimes against humanity cannot evade justice forever.
The Rwandan government has welcomed the arrest of Kayishema and has called for his extradition to Rwanda to face trial. The Rwandan Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Johnston Busingye, said in a statement that “the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema is a significant step towards bringing to justice those who committed genocide against the Tutsi.”
The ICTR was established by the United Nations Security Council in 1994 to prosecute those responsible for the Rwandan genocide. The tribunal completed its work in 2015, having convicted 61 individuals of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
However, several suspects, including Kayishema, remained at large. The arrest of Kayishema is a reminder that justice can be delayed but not denied.
In conclusion, the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema is a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the Rwandan genocide. It sends a strong message that those who commit crimes against humanity cannot evade justice forever. The Rwandan government has welcomed the arrest and has called for Kayishema’s extradition to Rwanda to face trial. The arrest is a reminder that justice can be delayed but not denied.
