AU hails Kabuga’s arrest, says it’s landmark arrest

African Union has hailed the arrest of Felicien Kabuga, the mastermind and financier of the Rwandan 1994 genocide.

Kabuga was arrested in France on May 16 by French security forces after 23 years of him running from justice.

The genocide that targeted and slaughtered members of Tutsi ethnic minority group claimed about 800,000 lives in the hands of Hutu group of which Mr. Kabuga is a member.

Speaking about the arrest, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission said it was a “landmark arrest” given the fact that Kabuga was finally caught in the net of justice after several years.

Kabuga was in 1997 indicted on seven count charges by the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

The charges among others include genocide, complicity, conspiracy and persecution.

“This latest development is, indeed, a milestone in our collective efforts to ensure that such heinous crimes against humanity never happen again,” Mahamat said.

Mr Mahamat also called on the international community to double efforts in fighting and condemning ideology of genocide, denialism and impunity.

Kabuga’s arrest is a reflection of the decision of AU Peace and Security Council made on April 3, 2019 at its 836th meeting calling on member states and international communitiy to arrest, prosecute or extradite fugitives accused of genocide.