SA accused of harbouring Rwandan genocide suspect

The chief prosecutor of a UN tribunal has accused South Africa of failing to co-operate in the arrest of a fugitive sought over his role in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. According to legal sources, former presidential guard head Protais Mpiranya is believed to be hiding in South Africa. Legalbrief reports that he held the rank of major in the Rwandan Armed Forces and was second-in-command of military operations and intelligence. 'Since August last year, my office has been seeking urgent cooperation from SA in relation to the arrest of a fugitive located on its territory,' said Serge Brammertz, chief prosecutor of the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Since 2010, the tribunal has handled outstanding and ongoing cases from the former International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) that tried suspects in the 1994 genocide. The ICTR indictment alleges that between 1990 and 1994, Mpiranya and other officers conspired to exterminate the Tutsi civilians and political opponents, and helped to train militia groups who committed the genocide. In September 2002, Mpiranya was charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. A report on the News24 site notes that it marks the first time that South Africa has been accused of failing to assist in the arrest of a fugitive sought by the court.