The High Court In London Blocks Extradition of Five Men to Rwanda
28 July 2017
Judges in the High Court London have delivered their judgment in a case involving five men against the Rwandan Government. You remember that the Rwandan government (GoR) had appealed an early decision of the lower court which had also declined the extradition. The judges ruled that the Senior District Judge was correct in her conclusion that, if extradited, they would be at risk of a flagrant denial of fair trial. Again GoR has lost the case on appeal. However, the judges decided to give GoR what they called “a final opportunity to seek to assure the Court that credible and verifiable conditions will be in place, to overcome the legal bar to extradition.” They would have to include at least (1) adequate funding for investigation and development of defence cases and for representation in court by experienced and properly resourced advocates, (2) assurance of admission to the Rwandan Bar for suitably qualified and experienced foreign lawyers as defence counsel, where desired, and (3) inclusion of at least one non-Rwandan judge in any trial, such judge to be suitably experienced and independent of any connection with the Government of Rwanda (for example an existing judge of another relevant international court or tribunal). Let us wait and see the final judgment.
Rwanda Blocks Ishema at Nairobi Airport
23 November 2016
Leaders of the Rwandan political party Ishema were on Wednesday 23/11 on their way back home, but instead found themselves blocked in transit at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Kenya. Rwandan authorities demanded Kenya Airways not to allow them onboard on the flight they were meant to take from Nairobi to Kigali.
Holland extradites two Rwandans to Kigali
12/11/2016
Against all the odds, defying the Dutch parliament's opposition to the extradition of two Rwandans living in Netherlands and accused by the Kigali regime to have taken part in the 1994 genocide, the Dutch Justice Minister has ordered the extradition of Jean Baptiste MUGIMBA and Jean Claude IYAMUREMYE. They arrived in Kigali on Saturday 12/11/2016.
Rwanda security officials should stop abuse of street vendors
01 November 2016
In May, members of the Inkeragutabara, a part-time auxiliary force of the Rwandan army, tried to seize Théodosie Mahoro’s goods in Nyabugogo bus station, and she died from their beatings. Former detainees (of Gikondo Transit Centre) told Human Rights Watch that weeks of ill-treatment and insufficient food, water and hygiene had left them severely weakened. Most had received no education or training for other jobs, despite the government’s official policy of rehabilitation and reintegration.
Rwanda accuses Dutch MPs of "Shielding Genocide Suspects"
Kigali 29 September 2016
The umbrella body for Genocide survivors’ associations, Ibuka, has criticized the Dutch Parliament for asking the country’s Ministry of Security and Justice to suspend the extradition of two Genocide suspects to Rwanda. The lawmakers allege that extraditing Jean-Baptiste Mugimba and Jean-Claude Iyamuremye would dent the country’s democratic credentials.
The United Stated Deports Dr Leopold Munyakazi to Rwanda
28 September 2016
Dr Leopold Munyakazi was extradited by the US government and transferred into custody of Rwanda National Police and Rwanda National Prosecution Authority (NPPA). He is accused of participating in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, complicity in the Genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, as well as extermination and murder as crimes against humanity.
FDU-INKINGI Denounces The Abduction of Mr Theophile Ntirutwa, Party Leader in Kigali City.
19 September 2016
The political party FDU-Inkingi has been alerted about the disappearance of Mr. Theophile Ntirutwa, its local leader in Kigali-City, Rwanda. According to information provided by his family, Mr. Theophile Ntirutwa was abducted by the military on September 18, 2016 at 9:30 pm local time in the town of Kabuga-Nyarutarama commonly known as “Mu rw’impyisi” (Hyenas Den) while returning home on his motorcycle. The military put him in a military vehicle and took him to unknown destination.
Jean Baptiste Mugimba Writes to Dutch Justice Minister
2 September 2016
On 5 July 2016, a The Hague Appeal Court overturned an earlier decision of a district court and ordered the extradition of Jean Baptiste Mugimba and Jean Claude Iyamuremye. Jean Baptiste Mugimba who once was the Secretary General of an opposition party in Rwanda, the Coalition for the Defence of the Republic (CDR) is accused by Kigali of participating in the genocide in Nyakabanda (Kigali). In an open letter to Dutch Justice Minister, he clarifies his judicial dossier. He is a Rwandan refugee who settled in Netherlands for the last 15 years with his family.
Another Political Opponent Tortured and Killed by the Rwandan Regime
1 September 2016
Another political opponent who was kidnapped by the Rwandan government in March 2016 is believed to have died in the hands of her kidnappers. Mrs. Iragena Illuminee was known for her dedication to the cause of the poor in society. She was head of a local NGO, ABIRU, which helps children from very low-income families in Kigali City to get access to education. She was mother of three young children. She was a member of the not yet registered political party, FDU-INKINGI.
Rwanda: chronic malnutrition rates drop but remain ‘stubbornly high,’ UN-backed study reveals
5 April 2016
Chronic malnutrition in Rwanda have fallen significantly in the last three years, but still remain stubbornly high, especially in rural areas, finds a new study conducted over three years by the Rwandan Ministry of Agriculture with support from the World Food Programme. The districts with the largest share of food insecure households are predominantly in the Western Province, and include Rutsiro, Nyamagabe, Nyabihu, Nyaruguru, Rusizi, Karongi and Nyamasheke.
Rwanda isn’t opposed to international justice, it’s opposed to independent justice
14 March 2016
By withdrawing from the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, Rwanda has shown that what it fears is independent justice and the possibility that the African court might act impartially, unlike Rwanda’s domestic courts, and expose the political nature of Ingabire’s conviction. What this whole saga really reveals is how little confidence the Rwandan government has in the quality of its own justice system. This should make third countries think twice before granting extradition requests on the basis of assurances by the Rwandan government about judicial fairness and independence.
Rwanda Turns the Clock Back on Access to Justice
11 March 2016
By withdrawing from the African Court of Human and Peoples' Rights, the Rwandan government is depriving its citizens of a valuable avenue of recourse where they feel the national justice system has failed. Rwanda’s decision is a profound setback to access to justice. The Rwandan government should use the court to contest individual cases, and assert the rights of its citizens to access the court. Instead, it is denying the opportunity for both.
The Rwandan Government shutts all routes to justice for Mrs Victoire Ingabire
Brussels 4 March 2016
Having exhausted all delaying tactics, unable to derail the trial, the Rwandan government has notified the Court that it was withdrawing from the additional protocol allowing its citizens to seize the Court. It is therefore clear that for fear of a domino effect the hearings may cause and considering the arguments presented in the submissions of the defense, the Rwandan government seeks to avoid any form of international justice. It is important to recall that Rwanda has categorically refused to ratify the agreement creating the International Criminal Court.
Rwanda withdraws from African Court Declaration
Kigali 4 March 2016
The African Court of Human and People’s Rights has lost the extra jurisdiction to hear cases involving Rwanda after the government withdrew from the declaration that allows individuals or groups of individuals to file cases.
Opposition Figure Victoire Ingabire to Appear Before African Court.
26 February 2016
Rwanda's opposition figure Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza is to appear before the Arusha-based African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights on 3 March 2016. She asks the Court to order Rwanda to repeal with retroactive effect the two laws grounding her conviction, review the case, annul all the decisions that had been taken since the preliminary investigation up till the pronouncement of the last judgment, release her on parole, and pay costs and reparations.
United States Confirms Rwanda is destabilising Burundi
Washington, 11 February 2016
"We are concerned by credible reports that recruitment of Burundian refugees – including children – may have occurred in Rwanda in the past year, with training provided to facilitate their participation in armed groups seeking to overthrow through violent means the government of Burundi", US Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield .
Exclusive: Burundi rebels say trained by Rwandan military - U.N. experts
4 February 2016
A confidential report to the United Nations Security Council accuses Rwanda of recruiting and training Burundian refugees with the goal of ousting Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza. The report by experts who monitor sanctions on Democratic Republic of Congo contained the strongest testimony yet that Rwanda is meddling in Burundi affairs and comes amid fears that worsening political violence could escalate into mass atrocities.
Rwanda, the Enduring Lies: A Project Censored Interview with Professor Ed Herman
21 January 2016
Paul Kagame, the leader of Rwanda, has killed more than five times as many people as Idi Amin. He invaded the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1996 and went in and out of that country for years, killing what the U.N. itself admitted was probably more than 4 million people. He runs a dictatorship in Rwanda, where he gets 93 percent of the vote in a country where 90 percent of the people are Hutu who consider him to be a conqueror, a terrorist leader. And yet he’s considered, in the West, to be a hero, a savior.
Paul Kagame is in line to stay in office until 2034
18 January 2016
The widespread use of popular petitions has been singled out for criticism by international observers, even those who have regularly celebrated the “new Rwanda”. They point out that government control of local populations is sufficiently tight and that those who expressed opposition to a third term - and thus against the president - could be putting themselves in danger.
DR Congo yet to decide on extradition of Ntaganzwa
Kigali 7 January 2016
The Congolese government is yet to decide on the extradition of Genocide suspect Ladislas Ntaganzwa to face justice in Rwanda, a month after he was arrested on its soil. Ntaganzwa, 53, one of the nine top fugitive Genocide suspects, was on December 7, last year, arrested in eastern DR Congo but there has been no indication that Kinshasa will send the former mayor to Kigali for trial.
U.S. 'deeply disappointed' Rwandan president will seek third term
Washington 3 January 2016
The United States is "deeply disappointed" by Rwandan President Paul Kagame's New Year's announcement that he would seek a third term in 2017, according to the U.S. State Department. Kagame had been limited to two terms, but Rwanda approved constitutional changes last year that would allow him to stay in power until 2034.
Kagame says he will run for third term
Kigali 1 January 2016
“You clearly expressed your choices for the future of our country. The process allowed us the time to make certain that the proposed changes had merit and wisdom. You requested me to lead the country again after 2017. Given the importance and consideration you attach to this, I can only accept,” Kagame says.
Rwandan Government seeks appeal in UK Genocide case
Kigali 24 December 2015
Shamelessly, the Rwandan Prosecutor General said the decision not to extradite these five men was dictated by politics as if it was in Rwanda where judges are not independent. “Regarding this particular judgment, my view is the Crown Prosecution (of UK) should appeal; hopefully, the appellate court will separate evidence from politics, distinguish hearsay from facts and properly evaluate evidence. The judge in the case seems to have been challenged in these areas,” Muhumuza added.
UN Dubious Appointment of Rwandan Generals to Major UN Peacekeeping Operations
14 December 2015
The United Nations has hired a Rwandan general to head a peacekeeping force in Darfur, despite his previous role as army chief of staff at the height of a deadly, Rwandan-backed insurgency in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The decision was taken despite General Kamanzi having served as one of the most senior military figures in Rwanda when the country supplied troops and weapons to a brutal militia in eastern Congo.
Rwanda fueling war in Burundi, says Refugees International
13 December 2015
Rwanda stands accused of fueling a brutal insurgency in neighboring Burundi that could morph into a regional war, an international refugee organization warned Sunday 13 December 2015. The latest report by Refugees International is the clearest, most compelling evidence to date that Rwanda is destabilizing Burundi, a country wracked by political unrest since April, when President Pierre Nkurinziza decided to pursue a third term in office.
Congo sets conditions for extradition of Rwanda genocide suspect
Kinshasa 12 December 2015
Democratic Republic of Congo's justice minister set conditions on Friday for the extradition of a suspect in the Rwandan genocide, saying Rwanda needs to respond to its own requests that suspects now on Rwandan soil be extradited to Congo.Mr Thambwe could not say how many outstanding extradition requests Congo has with Rwanda. But he cited the example of Laurent Nkunda, the former leader of the CNDP, a Rwandan-backed group that waged an insurrection in eastern Congo from 2006 to 2009.
Congo arrests Rwandan former mayor wanted for genocide
11 December 2015
Democratic Republic of Congo has arrested a former Rwandan mayor accused of orchestrating the killing of tens of thousands of people during the 1994 genocide, Rwanda's prosecutor general said on Thursday 10 December 2015. Ladislas Ntaganzwa, who headed the commune of Nyakizu in southern Rwanda, was indicted in 1996 and is accused of genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide as well as extermination, murder and rape, Prosecutor General Richard Muhumuza said in a statement.
European Union Echoes US Position Urging President Kagame to Step Down in 2017
3 December 2015
"However, the adoption of provisions that can apply only to one individual weakens the credibility of the constitutional reform process as it undermines the principle of democratic change of government enshrined in Article 23 of the African Charter of Democracy, Elections and Governance. The amendments to the Rwandan constitution recently approved by Parliament - if confirmed by referendum - would give rise to this situation"
Rwandan Government Accused of Arming and Funding Militias Responsible for Abuses Against Civilians in Eastern DRC
5 November 2015
In a press release, Colonel Jean Michel Africa, the military spokesperson of a coalition of Rwandan rebels, the Rally for Unity and Democracy (RUD-Urunana) and Rally of the Rwandan People (RPR - Inkeragutabara), is accusing a militia known as SOKI, of terrorizing innocent civilians in North-Kivu province, Eastern DRC.
Kagame: I have not asked anyone to change constitution for me! True or False?
21 October 2015
I have not – and you can investigate it by asking anybody – I have not sought or asked anybody to change the constitution for me. No. I am not part of this exercise as you see it. So I see people writing that Kagame is seeking a third term. No, I am not seeking anything.
Spanish Arrest Warrant for Rwandan Spy Chief Remains Valid.
Madrid, 17 October 2015
A Spanish arrest warrant for Rwanda's intelligence chief remains valid despite a decision by British court to drop an extradition case against him, a judicial source said today. Spain is seeking the arrest of General Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, a key figure in the regime of President Paul Kagame, on terrorism charges related to alleged crimes during the 1994 Rwanda conflict, the source said.
Gen Karenzi, Kayumba and Kabarebe still wanted by Spain
9 October 2015
The Rwandan Authorities through their local funded media outlets have been spreading their usual propaganda that the Spanish arrest warrants which led to the Arrest and Detention of Gen. Karenzi Karake in London recently that have been revoked is not only misleading, hypocritical but also full of lies. The truth is that suspects including Gen Karenzi Karake remain wanted by the Spanish Prosecution and vulnerable to all European judicial jurisdictions.
Spain dismisses Rwanda war crimes case against 40 officials
Madrid, 7 October 2015
Spain's supreme court has dismissed a case against 40 Rwandan officials accused of revenge killings following the 1994 genocide. The ruling revokes arrest warrants against the group, but 29 could still be prosecuted if they enter Spanish territory.Last year Spain curbed its universal jurisdiction laws, which enable it to pursue human rights cases globally.
French court drops genocide case against Rwandan priest
Paris 6 October 2015
A French court has dropped a long-running case against a Rwandan priest, Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a source at the prosecutor's office said on Tuesday (6 October). The court decision follows a request by prosecutors in August for the case be dropped for lack of evidence.
“Why Not Call This Place a Prison?”
Unlawful Detention and Ill-Treatment in Rwanda’s Gikondo Transit Center
New York, 24 September 2015
Living conditions in Gikondo are harsh. Former detainees said that up to 400 people could be held in one room, with many forced to sleep on the floor. There are insufficient supplies of food and water, poor sanitation and hygiene facilities, and inadequate access to medical treatment. Visits by family, friends, and lawyers are almost impossible.
DR Congo's Bosco Ntaganda pleads not guilty at ICC trial
The Hague, 2 September 2015
Former Congolese rebel leader Bosco Ntaganda has pleaded not guilty to all charges at the start of his war crimes trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague. The 18 charges include murder, rape and the recruitment of child soldiers.
'Monster' saved by Cherie: How human rights champion Mrs Blair helped a general accused of appalling crimes avoid trial
London 13 August 2015
Isn’t it bitterly ironic that Cherie Blair, a ‘human rights’ lawyer, has succeeded in putting General Karake on a plane back to Africa. karake is accused of the murder of Spaniards and British citizens. Karake has also been linked to a series of other gruesome massacres, when fleeing Hutus were encouraged to come to football stadia or fields to hear the words of their new leaders. But these meetings were called not to talk, but to kill, with witnesses saying soldiers opened fire....
Spanish lawyer asks Britain to stop Karake from leaving UK
12 August 2015
“We request that General Karenzi Karake be prevented from leaving the United Kingdom and that precautionary measures imposed against him on June 25 be maintained until an appeal on the matter is considered and made final,” Jordi Palou-Loverdos told Digital Journal. A petition by the lawyer was sent to UK judicial authorities and Eurojust, a EU agency dealing with judicial cooperation. On Monday (10 August 2015), General Karenzi Karake was set free and told he could return home within 48 hours, causing angry scenes by protesters outside the Rwandan embassy in London.
The Release of General Karake: a Shameful Miscarriage of Justice
11 August 2015
The acquittal of General Karenzi Karake by the British Court today is a shameful miscarriage of justice. It is a demonstration that the nexus of money, power and big interests can override the quest for justice. Only President Paul Kagame, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie Blair are the winners at the expense of Rwandans, Spanish and European citizens who have perished at the hands of Rwanda’s brutal regime.
War Crimes and Rwandan Realities
19 July 2015
Gen. Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, the head of the Rwandan intelligence services who is now free on bail in London pending an extradition hearing in October 2015. General Karake’s case is a searing reminder of the need to hold Mr. Kagame accountable. He too belongs in the dock, standing trial before the International Criminal Court in the Hague.
What The United Nations Knows About Rwanda’s Powerful Spy Chief
3 July 2015
General Karake is first and foremost a master at exploiting weakness, a man able to target enemies with astounding precision and never missing his mark. At the planning and killing level, he is more shrewd than most. It is hard to escape his traps. Karenzi doesn’t miss a target. He understood on a visceral level what Paul Kagame wanted to accomplish in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide and knew on a cerebral level how it should be done.
Ending Genocide in Rwanda Does not Excuse Murder
30 June 2015
Rwandan government officials and their supporters have called Karenzi Karake’s arrest scandalous. But they have nothing to say about justice for the many victims of RPF crimes. Justice must be done for all the victims. Our collective horror in response to the genocide should not be used to deny victims justice, nor shelter those responsible for other crimes. Helping to end genocide can never provide impunity for the murder of others.
US State Department Rwanda's 2014 Report On Human Rights
25 June 2015
The most important human rights problems in the country were disappearances, government harassment, arrest, and abuse of political opponents, human rights advocates, and individuals perceived to pose a threat to government control and social order; disregard for the rule of law among security forces and the judiciary; and restrictions on civil liberties.
Karake Gets 12 Hours Curfew As Rwanda Pays £1million
London 25 June 2015
Rwanda's intelligence chief Karenzi Karake has been granted bail of £1m ($1.6m) by a court in London. The judge imposed a series of conditions to ensure the police can constantly monitor his whereabouts. Gen Karake will have to report to police daily and live in a house rented by the Rwandan embassy.
Thousands Demonstrate at UK High Commission in Kigali Over Gen Karake Arrest
Kigali 24 June 2015
Thousands of Rwandans and well-wishers Wednesday afternoon gathered at the gates of the United Kingdom’s High Commission in Kacyiru, Kigali to protest against the recent arrest of the head of the National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS). “We are here to demand for an immediate release of General Karenzi Karake who was illegally detained by the UK authorities over unsubstantiated claims. Rather than going for those who committed Genocide you are instead going for men who stopped it"
Spain Wants London to Hand Over Rwanda Spy Chief Karake
Madrid 24 June 2015
Spain sent a formal demand to Britain on Wednesday calling for it to hand over a Rwandan general whom Madrid wants to try for alleged atrocities in the 1990s. British police detained Karenzi Karake, 54, at Heathrow airport on Saturday on a European arrest warrant issued by Spain in 2008 as part of an investigation into alleged crimes during the Rwanda conflict. A judge at Spain's National Court "has made a formal request" for Britain to hand over the suspect, who faces terrorism charges in the case, a judicial source told AFP.
Karake Arrest Strains Fragile UK-Rwanda Relations
London 24 June 2015
The arrest of General Karenzi Karake in London is bound to strain what is increasingly becoming a fragile relationship between Britain and Rwanda. The Rwandan government is said to be "furious" with Britain, as much for the style in which the arrest was made as the substance of the indictment itself. Broadly speaking, Rwanda's view is that the Europeans, by issuing an arrest warrant, have been hoodwinked by pro-Hutu sympathisers.
General Karake Is Implicated In The Killing of Two Britons
London 23 June 2015
The Spanish indictment names Chris Mannion, a British Catholic missionary shot dead in 1994, and Graham Turnbull, an aid worker and observer with the UN High Commission for Refugees killed in 1997, among foreign nationals who were targeted alongside thousands of Rwandan Hutus in the aftermath of the genocide, during which ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred wholesale by Hutu extremists.
Rwanda chief Spy Arrested in London
London 23 June 2015
One of Rwanda’s top military figures has been arrested in London in relation to alleged war crimes against civilians, police have said. Karenzi Karake, director general of Rwanda’s national intelligence and security services, was prevented from leaving the country on Saturday morning by the Metropolitan police extradition unit on behalf of authorities in Spain.
Rwanda Murder Plotters Jailed in South Africa.
Johannesburg 10 September 2014
A South African court has sentenced four men to eight years in prison for trying to murder Rwanda's former army chief Gen Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa. However, the magistrate said the "main culprits" had not been arrested. "You are not the main culprits in this matter. It is my view that you are supposed to appear before me with all the people who made money available and also the people who paid to commit the offences," he is quoted as saying.
Norway to Extradite Another suspect
4 September 2014
A Norwegian court on Wednesday ruled to extradite Eugene Nkuranyabahizi, 41, to Rwanda to stand trial for his role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Nkuranyabahizi has lived in the Nordic country since 1999. He was arrested in May last year following an indictment sent to Norwegian authorities by the Rwandan judiciary. He is accused of participating in the massacre of Tutsi in the former Nyakizu Commune, currently Nyabihu and Nyanza districts.
Dilemma over President Paul Kagame
2 September 2014
It’s not unusual for dictators to see their own interests and those of the country they rule as one and the same thing. It’s not even uncommon for dictators to have people killed.What’s really rare is a dictator who has had quite a lot of people killed, but is congratulated by other countries for his excellent administration and showered with foreign aid.
South Africa Finds Four Guilty of Conspirancy to Murder General Nyamwasa
Johannesburg 29 August 2014
Four men have been found guilty of trying to murder Rwanda's former army chief, Gen Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa, in South Africa in June 2010. Another two suspects, including the alleged ringleader and the general's former driver, were acquitted. The judge said the plot was politically motivated and emanated "from a certain group of people from Rwanda".
Arrested Rwandan Army Officers Appear in Court
Kigali 29 August 2014
Col. Tom Byabagamba and two retired army officers, Brig. Gen. Frank Rusagara and Capt. David Kabuye, will be produced before court for mention today, The New Times has learnt. The three men were arrested separately last week over suspected involvement in crimes against state security, according to Defence and Military Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Joseph Nzabamwita.
Lt Mutabazi Judgment Ajourned until September 12
Kigali 29 August 2014
The presiding judge in the case involving Lt Joel Mutabazi and 15 others accused of terrorism and treason among other charges has postponed judgment and adjourned the trial until 12, September. This is due to new evidence that the judges want to examine before making their decision. A definitive judgment was expected today at the Kanombe Military High Court.
Government reshuffle, Joe Habineza Is Back
Kigali 24 July 2014
Having left the government three years for indicent acts with young girls, Joseph Habineza is back in the same Ministry. Parents of young girls be aware. A paedophile can never change his behaviour.
Kabuga and Eight More still Wanted by ICTR
Kigali 24 July 2014
“Twenty years have passed but we want to make it clear, we will search the globe to bring these remaining fugitives to justice for the sake of the victims, and the sake of the survivors. There is no expiration date on justice for these crimes,” US Ambassador-at large Rapp told journalists in Kigali.
Rwanda is not only led by a Dictator, The Country is Governed in a Totaritarian Manner, General Nyamwasa
4 July 2014
Civil liberties are suppressed in Rwanda than in any other country in Africa. Independent journalists have been forced to flee and critical media houses closed. Civil society organisations have been co-opted, including ‘opposition’ parties lumped into what is known as the forum. Each one has to be a photocopy of the other to think the same and compete only in supporting the RPF.
African Leaders Vote to Give Themselves Immunity from War Crimes
2 June 2014
African leaders gathered for a continent-wide summit voted to give themselves and their allies immunity from prosecution for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide at a new African Court of Justice and Human Rights.The decision comes as the continent confronts human-rights violations and has two sitting presidents and one ousted president facing charges at the International Criminal Court.
General Bizimungu Sentence Upheld by ICTR
Arusha 30 June 2014
The UN court for Rwanda upheld a 30 year jail term for former army chief Augustin Bizimungu on Monday (30 June 2014) for his role in the 1994 genocide during which he called for the murder of minority Tutsis. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) “unanimously affirmed the sentence of 30 years in prison,” Judge Theodor Meron said, as the former general stood to hear his appeal dismissed in the courtroom in Tanzania.
Congo Autopsies Reveal "Executions" in Rwanda Clash
26 June 2014
Autopsies on five bodies returned by Rwanda to the Democratic Republic of Congo show they were probably executed, a military source has told the BBC. The bodies were handed over following border clashes between the two countries armies earlier this month. DR Congo says they began when a corporal was kidnapped by Rwandan soldiers who crossed the border. Rwanda says the men were killed in combat after they attacked Rwandan soldiers on its territory.
Visas Problems between DR Congo and Rwanda
26 June 2014
Scores of Rwandans seeking to cross into DR Congo through Petite Bariere border in Rubavu District have been stranded since Tuesday following the imposition of visa fees. The new visa costs $30 (Rwf20,300) per year for students, $50(Rwf33,900) for informal business people for a three-month stay, while for people employed in DR Congo it is $250 (Rwf169,500) per month. Lucie Ndeta, a Congolese immigration official, told the stranded travellers yesterday that all Rwandans crossing into DR Congo must pay visa fees.
Dutch Supreme Court Orders Extradition to Rwanda
18 June 2014
The Netherlands is allowed to extradite a Rwandan Genocide suspect, the Dutch Supreme Court determined on Wednesday (18 June 2014). The 38-year-old man, Jean-Claude Iyamuremye, was held for extradition in October last year.
War Rages Between Rwanda and DR Congo
12 June 2014
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda sent extra troops to their shared border on Thursday after gunfire briefly broke out for the second day, ending months of relative calm in the volatile region. Congolese and Rwandan officials each accused the other's armies of mounting cross-border raids on Wednesday that prompted heavy fire between the two forces. Gunfire was reported early on Thursday morning but had ceased by 0800 local time.
Rwanda and DRC armies clashed
Goma 11 June 2014
Rwandan forces and troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo are fighting each other on the border, the Congolese information minister says. Lambert Mende told the BBC the battle began when a unit of Rwanda soldiers crossed over the border and attacked in early on Wednesday (11 June 2014).
Oil Hunt to be Halted in DR Congo Virunga Park
11 June 2014
The hunt for oil is to be halted in Africa's oldest national park in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a UK-based oil firm has said. Virunga National Park is a Unesco World Heritage site and home to more than 200 endangered mountain gorillas. Soco International made the concession after the WWF filed a complaint that the company was violating good business practice guidelines.
Kagame Declares "Shoot On Sight" Anti-terror Policy
6 June 2014
"Those who talk about disappearances... we will continue to arrest more suspects and if possible shoot in broad daylight those who intend to destabilise our country," Kagame was quoted as saying by the East African newspaper. In a contry where death penalty was abolished in 2007, this policy institues clearly extrajudicial killings.
Rwanda v HRW: HRW counter-attacks
03 June 2014
Human Rights Watch is deeply concerned that the Rwandan Ministry of Justice has grossly misrepresented the work of Human Rights Watch and disparaged its staff in comments published in the Rwandan New Times on June 2, 2014. Human Rights Watch has worked on Rwanda for more than 20 years, since before the 1994 genocide, documenting abuses against Rwandans and defending the human rights of all, regardless of their political or other affiliation.
Is Human Rights Watch a mouthpiece of the FDLR?
Kigali 02 June 2014
According to the Rwandan Ministry of Justice, "HRW seems to have become more overtly the campaign mouthpiece of the FDLR, the armed genocidaires who after committing genocide in Rwanda in 1994, were given safe passage to eastern DR Congo and have been accorded, ever since, a lucrative safe haven and shelter from justice".
France barred from Rwanda Genocide Commemorations
Kigali 6 April 2014
The French ambassador to Rwanda has been barred from attending events marking the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, amid a major diplomatic row surrounding France's controversial role in the events of 1994. The French government initially announced that it was pulling out of the events after President Paul Kagame again accused France of aiding the murder of 800,000 ethnic Tutsis.
Jakaya Kikwete never met Twagiramungu
Kigali 31 January 2014
The Tanzanian government has said that it is saddened by the malicious and false reports published over the weekend by a Rwandan government owned newspaper- ‘News of Rwanda’ that President Jakaya Kikwete is supporting and holding meetings with members of the rebel group opposed by the Rwandan government. Those reports are nothing but fabrications by editors of the said publication with malicious intention to attack the Tanzanian President and create an impression that Tanzania is working with enemies and groups opposed to the government of Rwanda.
"If the tribunal for DRC crimes was to be created today, we could arrest KAGAME as I speak", says ICC Chief Prosecutor.
Pretoria, 16 October 2012
ICC Chief Prosecutor Ms Fatou Bensouda, it is clear that the gross human rights violation committed in the DRC with the support of the Rwandan dictator ( Paul Kagame) is high on the ICC agenda.
Experts Report on the Habyarimana Plane, a Doubled Edged Sword for Kagame
16 January 2012
_The long awaited report on the April 6, 1994 shooting down of the plane
carrying the Rwandan and Burundian presidents Juvenal Habyarimana and
Cyprien Ntaryamira and their staff was published earlier this week. According to AfroAmerica Network sources, the French judges have overwhelming evidences and testimonies that a Rwandan Patriotic Army commando shot down the plane, using the missiles bought from the Soviet Union by Ugandan army and officially stolen, but likely given in covert action, from the Ugandan army arsenal by the Rwandan Patriotic Army. _
It is official: DR Congo killings may be Genocide
Geneva 1 October 2010
A UN report into the killings of Hutu civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 1990s says they may constitute "crimes of genocide". It accuses Rwandan, Ugandan and Burundian forces of participating in the attacks, and recommends that the international community seeks to prosecute those responsible.