20 years after Genocide, Africa needs to do more on fugitives

Editor, THIS YEAR, our country marks 20 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. We have seen a lot being done to ensure that justice prevails on those who played the role in the massacre of over a million innocent souls. On the part of our country, the government has done its best to dispense justice through mainly Gacaca courts, which also helped promote reconciliation among our communities. Some countries in Europe have also tried to bring to book those that were high in the echelons of the genocidal regime, albeit not at the same pace; whereas some have made some arrests, others have deliberately become safe havens for these fugitives. However, it is on the African continent where we have seen almost nothing being done to have these perpetrators of the worst humanitarian catastrophe brought to book. Much as evidence was provided by this country’s prosecution on the possible whereabouts of these fugitives in Africa, we see no action on behalf of our brothers on the continent. Take for example the most wanted fugitives; Félicien Kabuga, Augustin Bizimungu and Protais Mpiranya, who were at some point all reported to be in different African countries, not much has been done to ensure their arrest. The 20 years we are commemorating this year should awaken our African brothers, in the pan-African spirit, to ensure that these people are brought to book because justice delayed is justice denied. Besides, these fugitives are not getting any young, the earlier they are apprehended, the better. Chris Rugumaho, Belgium

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20 years after Genocide, Africa needs to do more on fugitives