Editor, RE: “Rwanda, Interpol intensify hunt for Genocide fugitives” (The New Times, September 18). This demonstrates that Interpol and Rwanda will stop at nothing in hunting down men and women who took part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Many countries both in Europe and Africa have been accused by Rwanda and International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for doing nothing to arrest genocide suspects hiding in their countries. Despite numerous requests for legal procedures to be followed, little has been done by some countries. Instead, many genocide suspects continue to live comfortable lives in exile. However, it becomes betrayal of the highest level when African countries block the extradition of these suspects. Such inaction from African states at a time when some western countries seem to be finally willing to put an end to the génocidaires’ impunity is indeed heartbreaking. What is clear is that in comparison to how the west has dealt with requests from Rwandan government, African countries are still dragging their feet. According to ICTR mandate, African states have an obligation to work with Rwanda’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit of the National Public Prosecuting Authority (NPPA) to track down all genocide suspects. Majority of those who committed the Genocide are already on the Interpol Red Notice list and there is no reason why hosting countries should not arrest them. The world owes it to the genocide victims and humanity to bring to justice the masterminds of one of the worst genocides in human history. Yet it is important that we confront the reality: While the UN set up a special court to try genocide cases and later handed over to the residual mechanism, these tribunals have done little to ensure that the ‘big fish’ in the Rwandan tragedy are tracked down and held accountable for their heinous crimes. Indeed it is a shame that such fugitives as Félicien Kabuga, Augustin Bizimungu and Protais Mpiranya are still at large 21 years after the atrocities that claimed the lives of more than a million people. If the UN tribunals failed, let them hand the resources to Interpol and Rwanda to hunt down these perpetrators. Elvis Musafiri
