Genocide survivors to finally access bank accounts of slain relatives

Genocide survivors could soon get access to bank accounts belonging to their relatives who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning, Claver Gatete has said. Appearing before the Senate on Tuesday, minister Gatete said the ministry is working with banks and Ibuka, the umbrella of Genocide survivors, to establish all the relevant information related to the accounts in question and names of claimants. “As soon as we get the correct information from Ibuka, we will compare the details it with the bank accounts and then direct our legal team to start the process,” said Gatete. Since the end of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, banks claimed the collateral left behind by slain clients, leaving deceased’s kin, including orphans and widows, with nothing. The banks have also been reluctant to allow surviving relatives to access get the monies left by their loved ones on bank accounts, according to senators. The Executive Secretary of Ibuka, Naphtal Ahishakiye, said they managed to gather basic details and evidence on the presence of bank accounts belonging to some Genocide victims, which he said they are ready to submit to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning. He faulted banks for previously ignoring their request. Ahishakiye added that some banks admitted to the presence of some Genocide victims’ accounts “but most of them claimed the bank accounts were in negatives or had little money on them, simply pennies.” “Now with the ministry’s involvement, I believe this puzzle will finally be settled,” he said. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Genocide survivors to finally access bank accounts of slain relatives