Kigali calls for collaboration in hunt for fugitives

John Siboyintore, the head of Rwanda's Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit, has called for enhanced international co-operation to bring them to justice. He said that out of 33 countries where approximately 1 146 indictments were sent, only eight genocide suspects have faced prosecution, with 11 nations opting to return them to Rwanda for trial. The New Times reports that he noted that 30 individuals have already returned to Rwanda to stand trial, facilitated through extradition, deportations, or transfers from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He said 29 individuals have been tried in countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Switzerland. However, significant challenges persist, including a lack of political will in some countries, particularly in Africa, where more than 900 fugitives remain at large. Some fugitives exploit refugee status and acquire new nationalities, complicating extradition efforts.