The New Times (Kigali)

Rwanda: Genocide Suspect Arrested in DRC

Photo: News of Rwanda
A burial service for thousands of genocide victims (file photo).

Interpol has arrested a key suspect of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, who has been on the run for the last 18 years.

Vedaste Banguwiha, a former prominent figure in the genocidal regime and a member of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND), was arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

During and before the Genocide, Banguwiha was a famous businessman in western Rwanda and was awarded a tender to purchase and supply weapons that were used to massacre Tutsis.

He is also alleged to have incited the Interahamwe militia to erect a roadblock in the former Cyangugu town (now Rusizi), near Hotel des Chutte with an aim of stopping and killing the Tutsi.

Witnesses accuse Banguwiha of facilitating the Interahamwe by transporting them and rewarding them for killing the Tutsi.

Information acquired by The New Times indicates that Banguwiha was arrested in Katanga and later transferred to the capital Kinshasa.

Although officials at the Prosecution office could not comment on the matter, The New Times is reliably informed that Kigali is in contact with Kinshasa to have the fugitive transferred to Rwanda to stand trial.

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Comments Post a comment

  • ndayeman
    Oct 26 2012, 12:03

    Correct, Mushi. Transfers must be a two-way process. Not just from Kinshasa to Kigali with the latter offering refuge to criminals wanted in DRC, in the name of ethnic solidarity.

  • Mushi N'egweshe
    Oct 25 2012, 18:21

    Please Congoleses, Rwandeses need to transfer Nkunda Batware to Kinshasa in order to get this man. Vive l'RD Congo

InFocus

Key Rwandan Genocide Suspect Arrested in DRC

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A key suspect of the 1994 genocide has been arrested by Interpol in the Democratic Republic of Congo after being on the run for 18 years. Read more »