Malawian authorities on Sunday, June 11, deported to Rwanda a Genocide suspect who has been living in the southern African country, heeding a call by their Rwandan counterparts to bring to book genocide fugitives who have found a safe haven there.

The development follows just a week after the Malawian minister in charge of home affairs announced that they had received a request from Rwanda to help in arresting some 55 fugitives accused of the genocide against the Tutsi who live in that country.

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This by all means is a positive development. It also comes a few days after a genocide mastermind, Fulgence Kayishema, was arrested on a UN court indictment from South Africa and among the documents he uttered to escape justice for years, included a Malawian identity.

It also comes several years after the National Public Prosecution Authority, through the its Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit released information on the whereabouts of some of the key genocide fugitives where many were located in southern Africa.

ALSO READ: Fulgence Kayishema's impending transfer from South Africa explained

Another genocide mastermind, Vincent Murekezi was deported to Rwanda in January 2019 where he was to serve his sentence over a fraud case he lost in Malawi. He had used his wealth to avoid prosecution for years.

ALSO READ: Murekezi faces Genocide charges after his extradition from Malawi

Like Murekezi, there are many genocide fugitives who live in different southern African countries and have amassed wealth, which they use to buy citizenships and bribe their way out prosecution.

They then use this well-established network to mobilise support for FDLR, a genocidal force based in DR Congo, and other terror groups.

It is an established fact that those who remain in hiding in far-flung countries are mostly former top officials in government or leaders in other sectors who held significant sway against the foot soldiers, whom they left here to suffer the consequences of crimes they hatched.

This is why Rwandans, especially survivors of the genocide have for nearly three decades been calling upon countries to cooperate in arresting and bringing to book these fugitives.

We therefore expect more action after Malawi and South Africa and this is the solidarity Rwandans need to deny sanctuary to these mass murderers who have shown no remorse for their horrendous acts.