ICTR wants 11 fugitives from DRC

KIGALI - The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Hassan Bubacar Jallow issued indictments on 11 Genocide fugitive that are holed up in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and an expedited approach in apprehending them as soon as possible. Jallow said this while addressing members of the press Saturday at Serena Hotel after holding a closed meeting with Rwandan and DR Congo Prosecutors. “We are now satisfied that DR Congo is cooperating in tracking down these fugitives. We are hoping they will be brought to justice soon---recently two of them were arrested,” Jallow said. The UN court has so far issued indictments to 94 fugitives of whom 13 are categorised as key masterminds of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The tribunal insists that there are a number of fugitives still hiding in the eastern DRC and that it is extremely difficult to apprehend them considering the volatile situation in the area. Flory Kabange Numbi, DR Congo Prosecutor General said that due to the increased bilateral relations between the two countries, it will become simpler to track down the Genocide fugitives in his country. He said his country was doing what is needed to bring the suspects to justice without fail, though he mentioned the prevailing insecurity in the eastern part of DR Congo as being major obstacle. Both prosecutors were invited by Rwanda’s Public Prosecutions Authority for its annual general assembly that aims at evaluating the achievements of the institution during the previous year and charting agenda for the New Year. The general assembly was opened by Justice Minister, Tharcisse Karugarama who called upon the international justice system to contribute in the fight against Genocide by bringing to book all perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide. “I am appealing to all countries where 1994 Genocide suspects are hiding to prosecute them, not allowing them to make those countries become a safe haven for Genocide fugitives,” Karugarama said. “If the fugitives are left to freely roam these countries, it would mean failure of the international justice,” the minister noted. Ends

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ICTR wants 11 fugitives from DRC