KIGALI - The Government of Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) have welcomed the arrest of a Genocide suspect, Gregoire Ndahimana, who has been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

During the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Ndahimana, who was arrested in a village in North Kivu province, was the Mayor of Kivumu, Western Province and is accused of being instrumental in the killing of Tutsi who had sought refugee at the Nyange parish.

Augustin Nkusi, the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), said that the move was a clear sign of improving ties between Rwanda and the DRC which were beginning to yield results.

"Arresting this fugitive also implies that the issue of the FDLR is progressively being contained,” he also noted. Gacaca records show that about 6000 Genocide fugitives live in the DRC.

In an interview with The New Times, the ICTR Deputy Prosecutor, Bongani Majola, also hailed this development adding that it should serve as a reminder to the international community to continue cooperating in the arrest of other Genocide fugitives.

Majola said that the office of the ICTR Prosecutor has enough evidence that Ndahimana’s conduct contravenes international law, adding that; "no stone should be left unturned in ensuring that Genocide suspects are brought to account.”

Meanwhile, The New Times has learnt that former military officer, Lieutenant Samuel Imanishimwe, who has been serving a 12-year jail term at the ICTR, walked to freedom on Saturday, after completing his sentence.

Imanishimwe, who served his sentence in Mali, commanded a small military camp in the former Cyangugu prefecture during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. He was convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

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