Rwanda genocide suspect is arrested in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Rwanda's President Paul Kagame delivers a speech at the Amahoro stadium, in Kigali, on April 7, 2014, during a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of Rwanda's genocide. One of nine top fugitive Rwandan genocide suspects, a former mayor accused of slaughtering thousands and organising mass rapes in 1994, was arrested on Wednesday at the Democratic Republic of Congo. PHOTO | SIMON MAINA |
What you need to know:
- Ladislas Ntaganzwa, for whom the US had issued a $5 million bounty for his arrest, is indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity.
- Ntaganzwa is accused of organising, “the massacre of thousands of Tutsis at various locations.
- He was also alleged to have orchestrated the rape and sexual violence committed against many women,” the UN-backed Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals said in a statement received on Wednesday.
- Ntaganzwa, 53, who was arrested in Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, is expected to face trial in Rwanda.
ARUSHA, Thursday
One of the nine top fugitive Rwandan genocide suspects, a former mayor accused of slaughtering thousands and organising mass rapes in 1994, has been arrested, the UN has said.
Ladislas Ntaganzwa, for whom the US had issued a $5 million bounty for his arrest, is indicted for genocide and crimes against humanity.
Around 800,000 people - mostly members of the minority Tutsi community - were slaughtered in the 100-day orgy of violence, largely by ethnic Hutus.
Ntaganzwa is accused of organising, “the massacre of thousands of Tutsis at various locations.
He was also alleged to have orchestrated the rape and sexual violence committed against many women,” the UN-backed Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals said in a statement received on Wednesday.
Ntaganzwa, 53, who was arrested in Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, is expected to face trial in Rwanda.
The US State Department, which offered the $5 million bounty for his arrest, said he is accused of being “one of the main instigators of the genocide” in Rwanda’s southern Butare district.
He also allegedly helped “establish, train, arm, and direct” the Hutu Interahamwe militia there.
“Ntaganzwa is also accused of making speeches calling for the elimination of Tutsis,” the US bounty notice adds.
