Rwandan Genocide Fugitive, Turned Italian Priest, Arrested

By Jared Kleinman
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda – Officers from the Italian Carabinieri and Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Rome, Italy, arrested Emmanuel Uwayezu, a Rwandan fugitive who is accused of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity. He is currently in Italian custody and is awaiting extradition to Rwanda.

Rwandan Justice Minister, Tharcisse Karugarama, could not reveal whether or not Uwayezu’s extradition will be effected soon but said that the Government welcomes the move by Italian Police to arrest the man who orchestrated the killing of over 80 children of Mary-Mercy School Complex in Kibeho, where he served as headmaster. “This man was arrested on the basis of indictments issued by Rwanda and Interpol. Usually, we prefer that such individuals be handed over to us, but the most important thing is to see the arrest being made. As a country, we are happy and what we want to see is justice being delivered.” said Karugarama.

Uwayezu who has been working at a parish known as Madonna Del Rosario e S. Pio V in Ponzano, under a modified name of Emmanuel Mihigo Wayezu, was discovered by the London-based human rights group “African Rights” in May this year, consequently alerting Italian police to carry out investigations. Uwayezu arrived in Italy in 1997, took an alias, and was working as a vicar at the Church in Empoli commune near Florence when he was seized, Interpol said.

Uwayezu is accused of “participating in meetings with government and military authorities which allegedly planned the extermination of the Tutsi ethnic group” and “complicity in the massacre of some 80 students in May 1994 in the college which he headed.” According to Interpol’s statement, the Rwandan arrest warrant says Uwayezu was alleged “to have acted individually and as part of a conspiracy to plan and commit genocide by instigating Hutus to kill Tutsis in the area of Gikongoro, as director of the Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci college in Kibeho.”

The clergyman defended himself, saying “I took no part in genocide. Instead, the bishop and I tried unsuccessfully to save young people massacred by the militia.”

Uwayezu becomes the second Rwandan priest to be arrested serving the church in Italy under a false identity. Athanase Seromba who used to be vicar of Nyange Parish in the Western province, was found guilty of Genocide by International Criminal Tribunal of Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha and is serving a life sentence.

The 1994 Rwandan genocide left an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus dead over a 100-day period, the United Nations and Interpol say. Millions more were raped and disfigured, and nearly an entire generation of children lost their parents.

For more information, please see:

CNN – Clergyman Linked to Rwandan genocide seized in Italy – October 22 2009

AFP – Rwanda to seek extradition of Hutu priest arrested in Italy – October 22 2009
APO – INTERPOL praises Italian arrest of Rwandan genocide fugitive as ‘powerful’ example of international co-operation – October 22 2009

AP –  Interpol says Rwandan fugitive arrested in Italy – October 22 2009

All Africa – Gov’t Welcomes Arrest of Genocide Fugitive in Italy – 22 October 2009

Author: Impunity Watch Archive