Norway primed to extradite former teacher over Genocide

A former teacher in Southern Province, suspected of having participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is facing possible extradition from Norway, according to reports from the Nordic state. The reports were confirmed by the spokesperson of the National Public Prosecution Authority, Alain Mukurarinda who said in an interview yesterday that it was not yet time to divulge the details of the suspect in question. Mukularinda said the NPPA sent the request for the suspect’s extradition in August, but added that the process was still at infancy stage. Extradition chances“The process has started in the Norwegian courts and we await the ultimate decision of the court. We know extradition could be granted, or, they could as well decide to try the suspect from there but at the moment, nothing has been decided,” he said. He added: “All I can tell you now is that this individual is suspected of having played a role in the Genocide from the former Nyakizu Commune, in Butare, while a teacher back then.” In March, Norway extradited Charles Bandora to Rwanda to stand trial for his role in the 1994 Genocide. The trial is ongoing. Also, a Norwegian court has tried and convicted one Sadi Bugingo, sentencing him to 21 years in prison, the heaviest sentence that can be awarded in the country. Either scenario could form a basis to determine the course of action for this particular case, according to legal analysts. Optimism According to Mukularinda, there is hope the suspect will be extradited to Rwanda because it would not be the first time countries in northern Europe decide on extraditing Genocide suspects to Rwanda, “especially since the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favour of Genocide extradition to Rwanda.” He said the precedence was also set in cases of other suspects that have been transferred to Rwanda from other jurisdictions, including Canada, the US and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.