By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa Desk
KAMPALA, Uganda – On Tuesday, October 06, 2009 Ugandan police arrested a prime suspect in the 1994 Rwandan genocide in a hotel in Kampala. The suspect, Idelphonse Niziyimana was a former intelligence chief at the time of the genocide in which over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered. Ugandan law enforcement detained Nizeyimana after he entered Uganda last week from the Democratic Republic of Congo with false identity documents. He was on his way to Nairobi, Kenya at the time. Nizeyimana will be transferred to Arusha, Tanzania where the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda is located.
Nizeyimana is one of the most sought after suspects in the Rwandan genocide. Nizeyimana acted as an army captain and as head of intellgince 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.
Nizeyimana was born in Gisenyi which is an area of Rwanda close to Lake Kivu, near the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to being captain and head of intelligence and military operations, Nizeyimana was also a member of the same commune as the Hutu President. It is believed he belonged to an elite Hutu inner circle that provided him additional privilege, access, and command over officers and soldiers at the military college.
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 massacring 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.
The killing of the Queen is just one of many other events Nizeyimana is believed to have been a part of. Nizeyimana’s arrest is a huge win for many invested in the genocide because of the long list of atrocities he is alleged to have been attached to.
For more information please see:
All Africa – Top Rwandan Genocide Suspect Arrested in Kampala – 6 October 2009
BBC – Profile: Idelphonse Nizeyimana – 6 October 2009
BBC – Rwanda Queen-Killing Suspect Held – 6 October 2009
CBC – Rwandan Wanted on Genocide Crimes Caught in Uganda – 6 October 2009
