By RFIPalled on 10-09-2019Modified on 10-09-2019 at 01:00
Ismael Gafaranga and Alex Sugira are suspected by the South African justice of having participated, in 2014, in the assassination of the former head of Rwandan intelligence, then out of touch with President Paul Kagame. Arrest warrants against them occur after five long years of judicial proceedings.
On January 1, 2014, Patrick Karegeya was strangled in his hotel room in Johannesburg. From the beginning of the investigation, the South African justice system quickly identifies four suspects and their connection to Paul Kagame's regime. To avoid the diplomatic incident, the public prosecutor's office refuses to prosecute and the proceedings are bogged down.
For David Batenga, nephew of Patrick Karegeya, these two arrest warrants are therefore a first victory . " We waited far too long. We will continue to fight to bring the killers back to our country. We will not give up and fortunately we live in a state of law. It's not Rwanda. So the obstacles will only delay justice, but we know that sooner or later, the light will be made . "
Gihanna Kennedy, one of the family's lawyers, has no illusions about the outcome of these warrants. But a first shot was given and at this time, that's all that matters, he believes.
" We know full well that the Rwandan government is not going to extradite its military leaders to go to a foreign lawsuit, but South Africa can now seize Interpol. That these men try to put a toe out of Rwanda and they will be arrested on the spot. And that is an important message, sent by an independent court in an independent country. "
Kigali has always denied any involvement in the assassination of Patrick Karegeya.
On the same subject
South African justice paves way for Karegeya murder trial
Death of Patrick Karegeya: Letter refers to links between suspects and Rwanda
South Africa: Opening of a judicial inquiry into Karegeya's death in 2013
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