One of the world’s most wanted Rwandan genocide fugitives has been arrested in Paarl, after being at large since 2001.
In a statement, the UN said the arrest of Fulgence Kayishema, on Wednesday 24 May, came after a joint operation by the IRMCT (International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals) Office of the Prosecutor Fugitive Tracking Team and South African authorities.
The Hawks confirmed the 61 year old was arrested on a grape farm in Paarl, and was living under a false identity (Donatien Nibashumba).
The fugitive will remain in custody to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate Court on Friday 26 May, at the disposal of South African judicial authorities, pending his extradition to Rwanda.
Kayishema is alleged to have orchestrated the killing of approximately 2000 Tutsi refugees – women, men, children and elderly – at the Nyange Catholic Church during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
IRMCT Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz says his arrest ensures that he will finally face justice for his alleged crimes.
Brammertz says the thorough investigation that led to this arrest was made possible through the support and cooperation of the Republic of South Africa and the Operational Task Team established by President Ramaphosa to assist our Fugitive Tracking Team.
My Office would like to recognize in particular the Directorate of Priority Crimes Investigations, Crime Intelligence Western Cape Province, SAPS Interpol and the Ministry of Home Affairs. Their exceptional skills, rigour and cooperation were critical for this success.
They also received vital support from similar Task Forces in other African countries, notably the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of Mozambique.
Rwandan authorities under the leadership of Prosecutor General Aimable Havugiyaremye continued to be our strongest partners and provided essential assistance. Finally, our supporters elsewhere in the world, including the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom, gave important help as they have consistently done for so many years. Kayishema’s arrest demonstrates yet again that justice can be secured, no matter the challenges, through direct cooperation between international and national law enforcement agencies.
The National Head of the Hawks also commended the team for their excellent work and he said that the arrest of the fugitive demonstrates the power and effectiveness of international co-operation between police worldwide in obtaining information in relation to the identification, location and apprehension of fugitives around the world.
Kayishema was indicted by the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in 2001 and charged with genocide, complicity in genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity for killings and other crimes committed in Kivumu Commune, Kibuye Prefecture during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The investigation leading to Kayishema’s arrest spanned multiple countries across Africa and elsewhere, in strong cooperation with many national law enforcement and immigration agencies.
During his flight from justice, Kayishema utilized many aliases and false documents to conceal his identity and presence.
There are now only three outstanding fugitives linked to the Rwandan genocide.
