Malawi launches investigations into Genocide suspect Kayishema’s passport
Monday, June 05, 2023
Genocide fugitive Fulgence Kayishema obtained a Malawi passport in the years between 2017 and 2018 that he used for travel under the name Positani Chikuse . Reuters

The Malawi Government have launched investigations into how genocide fugitive Fulgence Kayishema obtained a Malawi passport in the years between 2017 and 2018 that he used for travel under the name Positani Chikuse.

ALSO READ: How Genocide fugitive Kayishema changed identity to elude capture

Malawi&039;s Homeland Minister Kenneth Zikhale Ng'oma told the press on Monday, June 5 that since this happened years back, the culprits who issued the passport shall face the book if found.

"We have followed it up and whosoever issued him this passport will be found and brought to book. We are fixing the broken system and it will be done," said Ng'oma.

On the other hand, Minister Ng'oma explained that the Rwandan Government has also issued arrest warrants for 55 individuals who are suspected of masterminding the 1994 genocide Against the Tutsi in different locations in Rwanda, and have launched a manhunt based on the names provided.

"These are Rwandans but they might have changed their identities because they are some of the most wanted people in the world. We are liaising with them together with Burundi to find these suspects for allegedly killing over 2000 people," Ng'oma said.

ALSO READ: Survivors welcome arrest of genocide fugitive Fulgence Kayishema

He further revealed that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR) wrote a letter to the Malawian government requesting for the extradition of over 500 individuals suspected to be involved in the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Kayishema was arrested by International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT), the Fugitive Tracking Team and South African authorities on May 24 in Paarl, Western Cape.

ALSO READ: UN chief says Genocide fugitive Kayishema’s apprehension sends powerful message

According to International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Kayishema was indicted in 2001 for genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture, during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

On April 15, 1994, at Nyange Church in Kivumu commune, Kayishema, and other co-defendants, killed more than 2,000 refugees, including men, women, elderly people, and young children.