Govt seeks extradition of Genocide suspect from DR Congo

National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) is set to send an extradition request to the government of DR Congo requesting the transfer to Rwanda of a senior FDLR leader who was recently arrested in the neighbouring country. Brig. Gen. Leopord Mujyambere, the chief of staff of FOCA, the armed wing of the FDLR, was arrested in the eastern Congolese town of Goma early last week on his return from South Africa, through Zambia. Mujyambere, with aliases Musenyeri, Achille and Frere Petrus Ibrahim, was intercepted by Congolese secret service and later flown to the capital Kinshasa. In 2012, the FDLR appointed Mujyambere as their new chief of staff, replacing Leodomir Mugaragu who had been killed. Speaking to The New Times on Wednesday, Faustin Nkusi, the NPPA spokesperson, said that following Mujyambere’s arrest his office embarked on indictment paperwork. Mujyambere faces charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to prosecution. “The arrest is commendable and we hope the Congolese authorities will soon send him to Rwanda to stand trial,” he said. Mujyambere is said to have been a captain in the defunct Rwanda Army Force (ex-FAR), the force that played a central role in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed more than a million lives in three months. Nkusi said Mujyambere’s criminal record predate the Genocide against Tutsis while he also committed crimes during and after the Genocide. He’s said to have been part of the deadly attacks by infiltrators, best known locally as abacengezi, in the late 1990s through early 2000s during which many people were killed. Rwanda has no extradition treaty with DR Congo but both countries have a legal framework under which such issues are handled, Nkusi said. Sources say Mujyambere was close ally of Sylvestre Mudacumura, the fugitive overall commander of the FDLR militia. DR Congo is one of the African countries believed to be home to a large number of Genocide suspects and received 46 warrants, while Uganda has received 38 Genocide-related warrants with Burundi receiving 12. Another 10 arrest warrants were sent to other African countries. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Govt seeks extradition of Genocide suspect from DR Congo