Tanzania’s topmost diplomat on Thursday, April 7, appealed to countries worldwide to arrest and try Rwandan genocide fugitives on the run, on their territories, as one of the strong measures to prevent impunity and the recurrence of genocide. This was as Amb. Liberata Mulamula, Tanzania’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, graced an event to mark the 28th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Kwibuka 28, in Dar es Salaam, the largest city and financial hub of Tanzania. The event was organised by the Rwandan High Commission there in partnership with the UN country office. During the commemoration ceremony, Mulamula noted that the annual event is the call to Remember and that, 28 years after the genocide against the Tutsi, “we stand with our sisters and brothers of Rwanda to commemorate a dark and tragic day in the history of humanity.” She said: “As we stand in solidarity with those who survive and support their continued quest for justice to hold the perpetrators of these atrocities accountable. In this regard we appeal to the International Community to arrest and try genocide suspects (fugitives on the run) on their territories who are yet to face justice for their role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, as one of the strong measures to prevent impunity and the recurrence of genocide. “The United Republic of Tanzania therefore reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Republic of Rwanda in ensuring that all suspects are brought to justice in accordance with international law, and deepen our resolve to work together in this decade of action as we march towards the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030.” The 28th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi is happening at a time when Kigali is pursuing genocide suspects hiding around the world. The country’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit (GFTU) is intensifying efforts to see suspects arrested and sent to Rwanda for trial, or, if the latter is not an option, have their host countries take them to court for justice to be served. Jean-Damascène Bizimana, the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagements, on Wednesday, April 6, told The New Times that: “Our other message now is that what the victims and Rwandans in general, need is justice because most of the masterminds of the genocide run away to foreign countries and even acquired foreign nationalities.” He added that they are roaming in Europe, Africa, and the Americas, but every country that hosts them has a responsibility to see them brought to justice or send them to Rwanda for trial because when justice is not delivered it means countries continue failing. Today, Bizimana said, there are more than 1,400 arrest warrants issued by the government of Rwanda and all those people should be found and taken to courts of law. In March 2021, an official from the Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit (GFTU) told parliament that by then, 1,146 indictments and arrest warrants against Genocide fugitives in 33 countries were issued. At the time, it was reported that 408 genocide suspects were in the neighboring DR Congo, 277 in Uganda; 63 in Malawi, 52 in Tanzania, 47 in France, 42 in Congo Brazzaville, 40 are in Belgium, 35 in Kenya, 23 in America (USA), 18 in The Netherlands, 15 in Zambia, 15 in Burundi, 14 in Canada, 13 in Mozambique, and 11 in the Central African Republic. In Dar, Amb. Mulamula also said that “on this solemn anniversary, as we reflect on the 28 years of remembrance, we honour not just the victims” but also those who risked their lives to save others as well as the survivors who carry the memories of the atrocities. “Today, even as we grieve with our sisters and brothers of Rwanda, we are inspired by the unrivalled progress Rwanda has made in moving beyond the horrible crimes and in building a more peaceful and prosperous future for its citizens. We applaud the Republic of Rwanda under the steadfast leadership of H.E. President Paul Kagame for rising from the ashes, re-building the country and for bringing sound economic and social development to the people of Rwanda,” she said. “We appreciate the determination, resilience and indomitable spirit of the people of the Republic of Rwanda in building a new community based on values of tolerance, unity and forgiveness.”
