You can run but…

The arrest of Ildephonse Nzeyimana, in Kampala this week, should serve as warning to the numerous fugitives, mainly scattered in different parts of the world, that one day the long arm of the law will catch up with them. We have heard many reports that these criminals who have, for over a decade, hidden behind pseudo names to escape justice, been operating between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and countries within southern Africa.

Thursday, October 08, 2009

The arrest of Ildephonse Nzeyimana, in Kampala this week, should serve as warning to the numerous fugitives, mainly scattered in different parts of the world, that one day the long arm of the law will catch up with them.

We have heard many reports that these criminals who have, for over a decade, hidden behind pseudo names to escape justice, been operating between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and countries within southern Africa.

Developments such as the recent signing of an extradition treaty with Kenya, the country where Nzeyimana was headed, will further boost the tracking system of these fugitives responsible for the Genocide that left over one million people dead.

Furthermore, Interpol which is ironically headquartered in France, a country that still harbors dozens of these Genocide masterminds, most of whom are already on the Red Notice, should do more.

The global police organisation should use this geographical advantage to crackdown on these fugitives, not only in France, but in other European countries.

Regional countries also should not renege on this noble cause of bringing to book these fugitives, especially where they are most concentrated like in the DRC.

There are equally large numbers of Burundian nationals, who the prosecution accuses of participating in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, and efforts to bring them before justice should be fast- tracked.

We remain optimistic that more countries will sign extradition treaties with Rwanda to ensure that these criminals are brought to book.

Ends