The former First Lady, and one of the most prominent Genocide fugitives living in France, was arrested by French authorities yesterday, but later released and put under judicial control.
Sources in the French capital - Paris, confirmed the development to The New Times, noting that Habyarimana was arrested in the morning by French police and immediately taken for questioning over her alleged involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in Rwanda.
France-based activists - "Collectif des Parties Civiles pour le Rwanda" (CPCR), filed a lawsuit against her and CPCR's Dafrose Mukarumongi noted that it was "certainly an arrest" and that they were waiting to see what comes out of her interrogation.
Justice Minister, Tharcisse Karugarama, was the first to express delight yesterday, although he remained cautious.
"We can only say that the long arm of the law is taking its due course and, we are encouraged by that development," Karugarama said.
"We are trying to put the pieces together - she was summoned by the judicial police to respond to the charges - you know Rwanda has already issued an international arrest warrant against her to the French authorities. We are waiting to see what is going to happen".
During a press conference yesterday, Prosecutor General, Martin Ngoga, reminded the media that her arrest was a result of an arrest warrant, and after French judges had visited Rwanda to investigate.
"It is all these (recent developments) that have resulted into her arrest today and, what we can say is that we appreciate the development," Ngoga noted.
"We don't question why it was not done earlier. Now that she has been arrested, it is good," he added, noting that government, as ever, is ready to cooperate with the French justice system.
Habyarimana's battle for refugee status came to an end last October, when the Conseil d'Etat, the top most court of appeal in France, threw out her quest, a decision that cannot be appealed.
Before going to France in 1998, she had crisscrossed Africa, especially the former Zaire (now DRC) and Gabon, using a Gabonese passport.
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How long shall we the people of Rwanda suffer the lies of one government?, arresting a First Lady straight after France president's visit!!!Then a top General defects!!They may think they are winning but later they will see they are actually losing.We are watching remember.
I wrote some time ago that the days of these genocide thugs are numbered....watch this space. LOL!
Why should Kigali wait for 16 years before releasing International Warrant for Arrest? Were they waiting for Paris to justify Kagame prior to warrant for arrest? This is ridiculous. We all know that president Kagame is the instigator of the 1994 Rwanda genocide as he is repeating the same act in DRCongo in front of MONUC(French acronym for UN). Even justified president Kagame is still the killer and the mastermind of all atrocities in Central Africa region. You must be blind to be deceived as his sense of criminality is one of the highest since the second World war. Everybody who is believing, justifying, and supporting president Kagame is not right. This is true, as long as Jesus Christ is alive, and tomorrow will tell.
Um-you need antipsychotic medication. Kagame is a hero. Any violence he commits is in response to the genocidal murderous nature of scum like Habyarimana. Lady genocide needs a date with the gallows. Long live Kagame.