By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Kivumo, Rwanda – Gregoire Ndahiman, accused of being responsible for the killings of over 2,000 ethnic Tutsis, has been sent from the Democratic Republic of Congo to a United Nations-backed tribunal.  Ndahiman, the former Mayor of the small Rwandan town of Kivuma has been detained in the DR of Congo since being arrested in August during an attempt to capture Rwandan rebels in North Kivu, located in the eastern part of the DR Congo.

In April of 1994 attacks began to take place against Tutsis who resided in the Kivuma communes along with those in other parts of Rwanda. Ndahiman is alleged to have been responsible for the specific attacks that took place against the Tutsis in Kivuma. It is reported that Ndahiman participated in several meetings with local church and government officials regarding the genocide that would eventually take place.  It is alleged that at these meetings the order was given to have all of the Tutsi citizens from the Kivuma commune brought to a church in the Nyange parish.  While held in the church reports indicate Ndahiman ordered that the church be destroyed, killing all of the Tutsis who were held in it.

Ndahiman will be tried in Arusha, Tanzania at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The court has indicted him for genocide, or complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity.  Many see Ndahiman’s transfer to Tanzania as an encouraging sign of improved relations between the DR Congo and Rwanda.

Relationships have been strained since the Rwandan Genocide, after many of the Hutu Rebels responsible for the deaths of thousands of Tutsis fled to the DR Congo, sparking years of unrest between both countries. Rwandan leadership believed that the DR Congo was not being cooperative in Rwanda’s attempts to bring the Hutu’s responsible for the genocide to justice. However after years of tension between the two countries, earlier this year they began working together to neutralize rebel groups in both countries.  Many are hopeful that Ndahiman’s transfer will begin a trend towards a better working relationship between the two countries.

For more information, please see:

BBC – DR Congo Deports Genocide Suspect – 20 September 2009

VOA – DRC Forces Capture Major Rwandan Genocide Suspect – 13 August 2009

TRIAL – Gregoire Ndahimana – 12 August 2009