ICTR convicts should serve sentences at home

Relations between Rwanda and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) have been fairly cordial over the last few years, even as the court has maintained its reputation for handing down rulings that are highly and, justifiably, unpopular in Kigali. The UN tribunal has, in the last couple of months, transferred to Rwanda cases of three Genocide suspects (although two of them are still on the run).This is without doubt a show of confidence in the country’s judicial system and should serve as a precedent for other jurisdictions who harbour Genocide suspects. However, while the UN court maintains that Rwanda is qualified to receive the convicts, it has continuously preferred other countries such as Mali and Benin as the destinations of the convicts, even though the ICTR statute designates Rwanda as the primary destination of the convicts.The final decision on the country to host the convicts rests in the hands of the court’s president. However, it is important that the tribunal’s decisions are taken in the broader appreciation of the need to support the country’s healing process.Sending these convicts to Rwanda to serve their sentences would boost the general satisfaction in the Rwandan society with regard to the international community’s role in the dispensation of justice.

Opinions

ICTR convicts should serve sentences at home