Rwandan Genocide Suspect in Custody

Fulgence Kayishema, a Rwandan accused of partaking in the 1994 genocide within his home country, is currently awaiting his next court appearance on Friday, 2 June.

The 62-year-old was on the run for 22 years before he was arrested at a vineyard in Paarl, South Africa on Wednesday, 24 May. He had been using the name “Donatien Nibashumba” as an alias.

According to reports, Kayishema one of the last four fugitives wanted for their alleged role in the genocide, specifically in connection with the killing of 2 000 people who had been sheltering inside of a Catholic church. In total, 800 000 people died during 100 days between April and July nearly 30 years ago.

Amongst the charges laid against him by the international criminal justice are genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide and crimes against humanity.

The accused attended an initial hearing on Friday, 26 May, at Cape Town Magistrates’ Court however, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has asked that the next court date be set a week later, so as to give them time to process new information.

“While he was being arrested, more information came, which could mean us adding more charges,” Eric Ntabazalila, a spokesperson for the NPA told journalists outside the courthouse.

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