Rwanda/Uganda/Tanzania

Genocide "butcher" arrested

Article published on the 2009-10-06 Latest update 2009-10-06 18:04 TU

(Photo: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICTR)

In Uganda authorities arrested a Rwandan genocide suspect, Idelphonse Nizeyimana, in Kampala on Monday. He is one of the four most-wanted suspects on the list of International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

Nizeyimana was an intelligence officer in the southern Rwandan town of Butare during the 1994 killings in Rwanda which left 800,000 people dead. He has been nicknamed the "Butcher of Butare".

"He has been on the run for 15 years," says correspondent Patricia Okoed in Kampala, "allegations against him include the setting up of special military units that kidnapped and hacked to death thousands, including children in a bid to wipe out the Tutsi dynasty in the 100 days of manslaughter".

Nizeyimana is wanted on charges of genocide, complicity to commit genocide and incitement to commit genocide. He is also accused of having ordered the execution of Queen Rosalie Gicanda, who was greatly revered by the Tutsi population.

Uganda's police spokesperson, Judith Nabakoba, says he was arrested "in one of the guesthouses, by Interpol in collaboration with International Tribunal Court members".

She told RFI he had "entered Uganda through Congo border and he told us he was on his way to Nairobi, Kenya. He was alone".

The United States had put forward a five million dollar reward for his capture.

After his arrest in Kampala, Nizeyimana was handed over to ICTR authorities.

A spokesperson for the Rwandan prosecution welcomed the capture but said Rwanda would like to see him extradited to face trial in Rwanda. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also welcomed the arrest, calling it "an important step forward in the fight against impunity".

Eleven other suspects on the ICTR suspect list remain at large.