The arrest of Genocide A-Lister – Félicien Kabuga – in France late last week was a sigh of relief for many, especially survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in which he played a prominent role. But the arrest also ruffled a few feathers, especially in the Genocide deniers’ camp as well as their sympathizers. It was a cold reminder to Genocide fugitives who did not benefit from the kind of resources that had shielded Kabuga for a quarter-century, that their day of reckoning was close. But today many do not even need to go underground because they learnt early that many countries in the West do not care much about what happened in Africa 26 years ago. No one could have broken down the situation better than former UK Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, because he knows what he is talking about. During his time in government he must have followed the issue of the five UK-based notorious Rwandans accused of genocide and crimes against humanity, who, for decades, have eluded justice. They have been able to manipulate the UK judicial system because there has been no sincere willingness to extradite them to Rwanda or even put them to trial in the UK. The UK authorities do not want to get their hands dirty by wallowing in some African muck for it seems they do not measure up to crimes committed against Europeans. Andrew Mitchell raises one very pertinent question; would the UK have reacted the same way if the fugitives were being sought for crimes committed during the Holocaust? The UK is not alone; Belgium and France are also known to be hotbeds of wanted genocidaires from Rwanda who seem to enjoy the reluctance of their host countries to follow up on the matter. The victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi matter as well, they deserve justice.
