KIGALI - Reports that Belgium has welcomed a Genocide suspect wanted by Interpol, Dr. Eugene Rwamucyo, have created shockwaves.

Reliable sources say Belgium has accorded a five-year residence to Rwamucyo, a Genocide suspect who was last week suspended by a French hospital where he was working.

Some sections of the international media uncovered this Tuesday and Justice Minister Tharcise Karugarama sounded shocked and quite unimpressed early yesterday when informed of the development.

"I am not aware of this, but it would be very unusual. Belgium knows very well that this is a guy who has been indicted,” Karugarama told The New Times over the phone.

"We will have to follow up this issue – it would be very unusual for Belgium to host this guy who is indicted by the ICTR, Interpol and Rwanda for Genocide crimes.”

The hospital in Maubeuge, in the town of Lille in northern France, suspended Rwamucyo after discovering that he was on Interpol’s wanted list in connection with the 1994Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

When contacted, members of the France-based Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda (CPCR), which advocates for the rights of the 1994 Genocide survivors, were also unimpressed by Belgium’s action.

"We heard last night that the Belgians had given him a resident permit for five years because of what they call ‘regroupement familial’ meant to bring families together – it is common here in Europe,” said CPCR’s Dafrose Mukarumongi.

"Nonetheless, the Belgians know very well that Rwamucyo is on Interpol’s Red Notice and even has a court case in France – it is unbelievable”.

She noted that Rwamucyo has a wife in Belgium and has been crisscrossing to and from the two countries, and added that the fact that he has been given a five-year residence permit despite his genocide links is saddening.

Rwamucyo’s wife, Mamerique Mukabanana, was a journalist with state radio until 1994.

She lives in a town near the French border.
Her husband is accused of organizing the killings of Tutsi students as well as patients at the then Butare University and hospital, in the Southern Province.

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