Ugandan police have arrested a former Rwandan army officer wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for his alleged role in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Captain Idelphonse Nizeyimana who is accused of genocide crimes and crimes against humanity was then second in commander of the southern Butare’s non-commissioned officer Institute (ESO).
According to the ICTR spokesman, Roland Amoussouga, this officer originated from northern Rwanda was arrested on Monday afternoon in the Ugandan capital, Kampala.
“He is now in the ICTR officials’ hands, Amoussougou told a press briefing, refusing to say whether Nizeyimana was already transferred to the ICTR prison in Arusha, Tanzania.
ICTR spokesman commended the Ugandan office of Interpol which contributed to the arrest.
According to the bill of indictment, Nizeyimana ordered his acolytes to kill on 20 April 1994 Rosalie Gicanda, the widow of the penultimate King of Rwanda, Mutara Rudahigwa III.
Queen Gicanda was a highly symbolical figure for the Tutsi ethnic group where the Rwandan monarchs originated.
The captain also allegedly masterminded a bloody attack on 30 April 1994 against a nunnery in the suburb of Butare.
The prosecutor accuses him of having drawn hit-lists of Tutsi intellectuals.
These hit-lists were handed out to soldiers and militias who subsequently carried out the mission, the bill of indictment reads.
A group of 11 other wanted genocide perpetrators are still at large.
Source African Press Agency
