By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk

ARUSHA, Tanzania– On Wednesday, October 14 2009, one of the primary suspects in Rwanda’s 1994 genocide pleaded not guilty to war crime charges. The suspect, Idelphonse Nizeyimana was a former intelligence chief at the time of the genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), where Nizeyimana  will be tried, is aiming to finish its work by the end of next year. Since 1997 the court has convicted forty people for crimes connected with genocide. The tribunal said that there are eleven fugitives that they are still trying to find. Martin Ngoga, Rwanda’s prosecutor general said, “the ICTR has done a commendable job in bringing to justice those most responsbible for the genocide; those who were in positions of leadership and most importantly, those who were beyond the reach of our jurisdiction.”

Nizeyimana was one of the most sought after suspects in the Rwandan genocide. He had been a fugitive for the last fifteen years, with a five million dollar bounty on his head when he was detained in Uganda earlier this month. Nizeyimana acted as an army captain and as head of intelligence and military operations in the country, during and prior to the genocide taking place. According to prosecutors Nizeyimana gave “clear signals” condoning the attacks against Tutsis. It is further alleged that Nizeyimana not only gave orders to kill Tutsis but in some instances he also participated in the killings directly.

Some of the charges brought against Nizeyimana include an allegation that he participated in a swearing in ceremony of a regional governor that saw the new Rwandan President call on the people of the region to begin slaughtering Tutsis.  Prosecutors also allege that one of Nizeyimana’s units carried out the killing of the Queen Rosalie Gicanda, who was a historic and symbolic figure to many Rwandans.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Rwanda Suspect Pleads Guilty – 14 October, 2009

AP – Key Rwandan Genocide Suspect Pleads Not Guilty – 14 October, 2009

BBC – Rwanda Queen-Killing Suspect Held – 6 October, 2009

BBC – Profile: Idelphonse Nizeyimana – 6 October 2009

Bloomberg – Rwandan Genocide Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Charges – 14 October, 2009