Rwanda: Prosecutor Brammertz Reverses Arrest of Genocidal Kabuga

Text by: Stéphanie Maupas Follow

Serge Brammertz is the prosecutor of the Mechanism responsible for tracking down the last fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He returned to the arrest of Félicien Kabuga and the aftermath of the case.

Publicity

How long have you known that Félicien Kabuga was in France?

Serge Brammertz: For about three years, since I took over the office of the Mechanism's prosecutor, we thought there was a high probability that it was in Europe and more particularly in France, Belgium or Great Britain. Brittany. It is only more recently, since the beginning of this year, that our efforts have focused on France with the competent French services.

►Read also: The alleged “financier” of the genocide in Rwanda arrested near Paris

If Rwanda were to ask you to try it, would you agree to transfer the file to Kigali, that is to say to divest yourself?

It is the Mechanism which is competent to prosecute and to judge it. So today, there is no legal basis to transfer this file to Kigali. We are obviously waiting for the outcome of the procedures in France, which can last a few weeks, even a few months. And then it will be transferred to the Mechanism or a priori , it will be prosecuted and judged before the judges of the Mechanism.

The trial should last quite a long time as is the case with all of these major trials. Are you already planning to speed up the procedures?

It is unfortunate that he had 23 years to escape and that it is only now that he is arrested. But you know, we are doing it step by step. Today, I think what is important is that Kabuga was arrested. I believe this is very important for all the victims and survivors of the genocide in Rwanda. This is the first step. Its very important. I think many people no longer thought we were going to get there. So, I believe that today we can rejoice that the arrest has finally taken place.

Now finally, the second step is very important too. It is to ensure that the file can progress at the level of the investigation obviously, but also at the level of the judicial procedure. And there, we will have to see in weeks and months concretely how it will happen. I believe that today we should be glad that, after having been on the run for so many years, one of the most wanted fugitives in the world has been arrested.

The hunt for the fugitives is not over. Seven of them are still at large, including Protais Mpiranya, former head of the Presidential Guard, and Augustin Bizimana, former Minister of Defense. Where are you at ? And will the arrest of Félicien Kabura help you speed things up ?

Each fugitive file is a different file. They are not helped by the same people. We continue to work intensively on the side of Mpiranya. We work with several countries in the region. I hope in the near future to be able to say more at this level. And with regard to Bizimana, we will also communicate very very important information in the coming weeks about it.

►Read also: After the arrest of Félicien Kabuga, what about the other alleged genocidaires?

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• Rwanda
• International justice

On the same subject

Rwanda: what awaits Félicien Kabuga, the alleged “financier” of the genocide

Rwanda: after the arrest of Félicien Kabuga, what about the other alleged genocidaires?