Fugitive Rwandan police chief Fulgence Kayishema arrested for genocide

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Fulgence Kayishema, a former Rwandan police chief, has been apprehended in South Africa, marking a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the war crimes committed during the Rwandan Genocide. Wanted as one of the world’s most sought-after genocide suspects, Kayishema stands accused of playing a prominent role in the killing of over 2,000 individuals within a church compound in April 1994.

After evading capture for over two decades, Kayishema was discovered residing under an assumed identity in Paarl, on the outskirts of Cape Town. The South African authorities and the Rwandan war crimes tribunal’s tracking team, stationed in Arusha, Tanzania, apprehended him on Wednesday afternoon.

The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 remains one of the most devastating and horrific events in recent history. In just 100 days, an estimated 800,000 – 1 000 000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were brutally killed by Hutu extremists. During this period, the international community was largely criticised for its inaction and failure to prevent or intervene in the genocide.

Exhaustive manhunt

Serge Brammertz, the chief prosecutor of the tribunal, who spearheaded the exhaustive manhunt, expressed his satisfaction with the arrest, emphasizing the gravity of Kayishema’s alleged crimes. Brammertz asserted that genocide represents the most egregious offense known to humanity, and the international community has made an unwavering commitment to ensure that those responsible face prosecution and punishment.

At 62 years old, Kayishema stood as one of four remaining suspects indicted by the tribunal, out of a total of 96. His arrest potentially signifies the capture of the last major suspect still at large. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the tribunal’s indictments primarily targeted the principal perpetrators, as there are still over 1,000 individuals wanted by Rwandan prosecutors for their alleged participation in the genocide.

Brammertz expressed his deep appreciation for the invaluable assistance provided by the South African authorities in facilitating Kayishema’s arrest. He commended their unwavering dedication, meticulous investigation, and the exceptional cooperation extended by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s operational task team, specifically established to support the tribunal’s fugitive tracking efforts.

Merciless assault

During the time of the 1994 genocide, Kayishema held the position of a Hutu police inspector in Rwanda’s Kivumu commune, situated in the northern part of the country. He stands accused of actively participating in the systematic roundup of Tutsis within the region, confining them to the precincts of a parish church in Nyange, where numerous Tutsis had already sought refuge.

The church became the focal point of a merciless assault orchestrated by Kayishema’s police force and members of the Hutu Interahamwe militia on April 13, 1994. With machetes in hand and grenades at their disposal, they savagely attacked the thousands of civilians within the church compound. Over a harrowing three-day siege, survivors, including women, children, and the elderly, resorted to barricading themselves within the church. Ultimately, a bulldozer was deployed to demolish the structure, causing the roof to collapse.

Parish priest Athanase Seromba was convicted of organising the killings alongside Kayishema. He had hidden in Italy with the assistance of the Catholic Church, but gave himself up to authorities in 2002. He was sentenced to life improsonment in 2008.

Just over a year ago, the tracking team discovered the remains of another major Rwandan genocide suspect, Protais Mpiranya, who was the former head of the presidential guard. He had been living in Zimbabwe where he died and was buried under an assumed name.