Rwandan President Calls for International Tribunal to Prosecute Genocide Perpetrators

Strategic Insights -

Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, urging the U.N. Security Council to establish an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for acts of genocide in the central African country. Bizimungu emphasized the need for swift action, stating that six months had passed since the crimes were committed, and it was time to act. The U.N. has estimated that over 2 million Rwandan refugees are still in refugee camps in neighboring countries, with tens of thousands returning home since the new government led by Tutsis was formed in July.

Key Takeaways:

  • Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu called on the U.N. Security Council to establish an international tribunal to prosecute those responsible for acts of genocide in Rwanda.
  • The U.N. estimated that over 2 million Rwandan refugees are still in refugee camps in neighboring countries, with tens of thousands returning home since the new government led by Tutsis was formed in July.
  • Bizimungu asked the council to adopt a resolution authorizing the arrest of criminals who are in refugee camps outside of Rwanda.
  • The president of the U.N. Security Council, British Ambassador David Hannay, suggested that the tribunal could be located in Africa or in Kigali, with appeals heard in The Hague.
  • The U.S. and New Zealand have drafted a resolution to set up the tribunal, but its location and composition are still being debated.
  • A U.N. commission reported that it has ample evidence that Hutus carried out a "mass extermination" of Tutsis after the Rwandan president was killed in a plane crash in April.
  • The commission recommended that the council set up the tribunal in The Hague, but this has been disputed.

Statistics:

  • 500,000 Rwandans were estimated to be massacred between April 6 and July 15 (International relief organizations).
  • Over 2 million Rwandan refugees are still in refugee camps in neighboring countries (U.N. estimate).
  • Tens of thousands of Rwandans have returned home since the new government led by Tutsis was formed in July (U.N. estimate).
  • The U.N. Security Council has 15 members, with an uneven share of opinions on the location of the tribunal.

Sources:

  • Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu's address to the United Nations General Assembly (no date).
  • The United Nations General Assembly (no date).
  • A U.N. commission report to the Security Council (no date).
  • U.S. Newswire (no date).
  • BBC News (no date).
  • Reuters (no date).