IN a significant breakthrough, one of the world’s most sought-after fugitives in connection with the Rwandan genocide, Fulgence Kayishema, has been apprehended in South Africa after evading capture for several decades, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
Kayishema is accused of masterminding the brutal slaying of nearly 2,000 Tutsi refugees at the Nyange Catholic Church during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) announced that Kayishema’s arrest took place in Paarl, a town located in South Africa’s Western Cape province, on Wednesday.
According to a statement released by the IRMCT, Kayishema’s capture was the result of a joint operation conducted by South African authorities and the fugitive tracking team of the international court. Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor of the IRMCT, highlighted that Kayishema had been a fugitive for over 20 years and expressed satisfaction that ‘his arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes.’
During the 1994 Rwandan genocide, an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were brutally killed in a horrifying 100-day bloodshed. The IRMCT emphasised that genocide is the gravest crime known to humanity, and the international community is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that the perpetrators are prosecuted and punished for their actions. The statement declared, ‘This arrest is a tangible demonstration that this commitment does not fade and that justice will be done, no matter how long it takes.’
The IRMCT expressed gratitude for the support and cooperation provided by South Africa and the Operational Task Team established by President Cyril Ramaphosa to aid their Fugitive Tracking Team. The successful arrest of Kayishema was attributed to a thorough investigation enabled by the collaboration between South African authorities and the international court’s task force.
The capture of Fulgence Kayishema represents a significant step toward bringing justice to the victims of the Rwandan genocide and holding accountable those responsible for the heinous crimes committed during that dark period of history. The international community stands firm in its determination to ensure that justice prevails, irrespective of the passage of time.