Rwanda's UN envoy emphasizes the need for international cooperation in bringing genocide perpetrators to justice.
Rwanda has renewed its call for the international community to take decisive action against the impunity of the masterminds and perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This plea comes more than three decades after the tragic events that led to the loss of countless lives and left deep scars on the nation.
During a recent address at the United Nations General Assembly on October 22, Rwanda’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Martin Ngoga, highlighted the unacceptable reality that over 1,400 indicted fugitives remain at large. He expressed concern that some of these fugitives are using the countries that have sheltered them to promote genocide denial and revisionism.
Justice Delayed is Justice Denied
Ambassador Ngoga stated, “Justice delayed is justice denied,” as he addressed the Assembly, which was convened to discuss the annual report of the UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT). He underscored the importance of the mechanism, which succeeded the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), in the ongoing efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the genocide.
Ngoga emphasized that while the UN Tribunal, despite its flaws, accomplished significant work, the international community still has responsibilities to fulfill. He noted that the remaining fugitives continue to evade justice, despite being accused of serious international crimes.
Rwanda’s Commitment to Justice
Rwanda remains open to two potential paths for addressing the issue of genocide fugitives: extraditing them to face trial in Rwanda or supporting their prosecution in host countries that have the legal frameworks to do so. Ngoga reaffirmed Rwanda’s readiness to uphold the legacy of international criminal justice, including the possibility of hosting convicted individuals and taking custodianship of the Tribunal’s judicial archives.
“For Rwanda, enforcing sentences is not a burden but a continuation of our national journey towards justice, reconciliation, and the rule of law that began after 1994,” he stated. Rwanda has been part of the Agreement on the Enforcement of Sentences since 2008 and is in full compliance with international standards.
Managing Convicts and Preserving Archives
Ngoga also confirmed Rwanda’s willingness to receive six individuals who were acquitted or released and relocated to Niger, suggesting that their case could set a precedent for managing both convicts and those who have completed their sentences. He emphasized Rwanda’s experience in managing Gacaca courts and genocide archives, positioning the country as well-suited to preserve the records of the ICTR and IRMCT, which he described as “repositories of memory, testimony, and truth.”
“The nightmare of impunity must not outlast the institutions we built to confront it,” he warned, highlighting the growing threats of genocide denial and distortion that continue to inflict pain on survivors and undermine reconciliation efforts.
Looking Ahead
As the IRMCT nears the end of its mandate, Rwanda has offered to ensure continuity of its mission and preserve the spirit of justice that guided the ICTR. Ngoga stated, “Rwanda stands ready to help carry forward the achievements of international criminal justice, ensuring that justice, dignity, and truth remain at the heart of our shared commitment to accountability.”
In the context of the tribunal’s completion strategy, most of the remaining files were transferred to Rwanda, but progress has been slow. The last ICTR-indicted fugitive, Fulgence Kayishema, was arrested in June 2023 in South Africa but has yet to be transferred to Rwanda for trial.
Key Points
- Rwanda calls for international action against genocide fugitives.
- Over 1,400 indicted individuals remain at large, promoting denial and revisionism.
- Ambassador Ngoga emphasizes the importance of justice and accountability.
- Rwanda offers to host convicted individuals and manage judicial archives.
- The country is prepared to receive acquitted individuals and uphold international standards.
Sources: Rwanda renews call to end impunity for genocide fugitives 31 years later