One breezy evening in 2007, the Minister of Justice at the time, accompanied by the Prosecutor General and other officials from the Rwandan judiciary hosted diplomats accredited to Kigali to an official dinner. The dinner was not just about sharing a drink and a few bites. It was more than the celebratory aura that normally characterizes such events. ALSO READ: Envoy admits wheels of UK justice turning slowly on Genocide fugitives During the dinner which was also attended by survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, the minister presented a list containing hundreds of key masterminds of the genocide who had sought refuge in different countries, especially in Europe. ALSO READ: France promises to try a genocide suspect every six months With meager resources at their disposal, a team of prosecutors painstakingly assembled the fugitives’ files case by case, for some identified pseudonyms they had assumed and for others, their workplaces and places of abode. Indictments and international arrest warrants accompanied that list. This sparked inroads of foreign prosecutors or investigative judges, depending on the jurisdiction but nothing much came of this. Among the cases that were first to be identified included that of five men, three of them former mayors in the present-day Southern Province, who were identified to be living in the United Kingdom. These men; Charles Munyaneza, Celestin Ugirashebuja, Vincent Bajinya, Emmanuel Nteziryayo, and Celestin Mutabaruka, masterminded the death of tens of thousands and just like the others on the list, the government of Rwanda’s request was for them to be apprehended and either extradited to Rwanda, or face trial in those respective countries. They remain free and have been inducted as leaders in their respective communities. This April, Rwanda will mark 31 years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed the lives of over a million innocent people. Despite ongoing efforts to bring perpetrators to justice, many genocide fugitives remain at large. ALSO READ: How has Europe fared in bringing to book Genocide fugitives? According to the National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), Rwanda out of the 1,147 indictments issued since 2007 and sent to 33 countries, a paltry 62 fugitives were apprehended and tried. Fifty percent of these fugitives were extradited to Rwanda for trial, while the same number were tried in the different countries where they were arrested. ALSO READ: US deports Rwandan Genocide convict Ahmed Napoleon Mbonyunkiza The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone is home to 408 fugitives. The rest are scattered across other continents, often shielded by legal and political complexities. Legal and political barriers to Justice Speaking to The New Times, Faustin Nkusi, spokesperson for the NPPA, highlighted key challenges in bringing these fugitives to justice. One significant hurdle is time—witnesses grow older, some pass away, and even suspects themselves may die before they are prosecuted. Lack of cooperation from host countries further complicates extradition efforts. “We do not have the authority to conduct investigations in foreign countries. Without their full cooperation, our hands are tied,” Nkusi explained. ALSO READ: Where are the 1,100 Genocide fugitives? Another major challenge is that many fugitives have acquired citizenship in their host nations, making extradition legally complex. “However, where there is political will, these individuals can still be tried in their countries of residence,” Nkusi noted. Even when suspects are located, legal hurdles persist. Nkusi pointed out that some trials have been halted after defendants were declared ‘unfit’ for trial, a tactic that delays or obstructs justice. Furthermore, fugitives often change their names and addresses to evade authorities. “By the time we submit an indictment, every detail must match the suspect’s current identity and location. If a fugitive has altered their information, tracking them down becomes difficult,” Nkusi added. IBUKA calls for stronger international action Gilbert Gakwenzire, President of IBUKA, the umbrella organization for genocide survivors, acknowledged recent judicial successes, including the deportation of a convicted genocide perpetrator from the United States. However, he stressed that much more needs to be done. “Many fugitives remain at large, especially in neighbouring countries and beyond. While some nations have demonstrated political will, the process must be strengthened and expedited,” he said. ALSO READ: UN court says genocide suspect Kabuga ‘unfit’ for trial Gakwenzire noted that some European countries prosecute fugitives who have obtained citizenship locally instead of extraditing them. “We do not oppose local trials, but we urge these countries to intensify judicial efforts and increase the number of cases handled,” he said. He emphasized the importance of both legal and diplomatic engagement in ensuring that genocide fugitives face justice. “IBUKA continues to raise awareness at various levels, but international cooperation must improve. Judicial diplomacy should be used to sensitize authorities and citizens,” he said. Gakwenzire suggested that parliamentary diplomacy could play a crucial role in fostering greater international commitment. “An aggressive diplomatic approach, combined with joint efforts, is needed to ensure that time does not continue to work in favour of fugitives,” he added. He concluded by asserting that every successful extradition, deportation, or trial proves that justice is achievable. “What matters most is the political will to act, and that must be reinforced,” he said.
