Author: b_igi_adm1n

A genocide memorial site in Nyamasheke district has been crashed by a tree which fell onto its rooftop forcing the it to collapse inwards.

The Memorial site is located at Gikuyu, Ninzi in Kagano Sector of Nyamasheke district.

Zimbabwe government has finally admitted that one of the most wanted Genocide fugitives, Protais Mpiranya, could be living on their territory.

Prosecution Spokesman Alain Mukuralinda told IGIHE that Rwanda is aware of the latest news on Mpiranya.

“ICTR still retains Mpiranya’s dossier. We are ready to collaborate with ICTR if they request us to do so.”

Mukuralinda urged other countries hosting suspects of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi’s in Rwanda to arrest and hand them over for trial.

The Zimbabwean Police Commander for CID Homicide, Chief Supt. Peter Magwenzi said September 17, Mpiranya was believed to be using various names that include Theophase Mahuku and James Kakule to evade arrest.

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Boubakar Jallow, has repeatedly said that there were signs the former commander of the notorious ex-Rwandan Presidential Guard was in Zimbabwe.

Mpiranya is wanted on a warrant issued by ICTR, and is one of the subjects of the US Reward for Justice Program, with a US$5 million bounty on his head.

Mpiranya formerly commanded Habyarimana’s Presidential Guard, a unit believed to have taken immediate charge, after the death of former President Juvenal Habyarimana on the night of April 6, 1994, and is blamed for murder of top politicians during the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Among the politicians that were killed was then Prime Minister, Agathe Uwilingiyimana and her security detail of 10 Belgian peacekeepers, a few hours after the downing of Habyarimana’s plane blamed on extremist elements within his party and military.

The attack on the former premier’s home is said to have been led by Mpiranya himself.

Jallow wrote to the UN Security Council last week saying there were difficulties in apprehending Mpiranya, calling upon Zimbabwe to prevent the Genocide fugitive from evading justice.

The prosecutor said they had requested for cooperation and assistance from Harare in bringing the top fugitive to justice.

Unconfirmed reports have previously indicated that Mpiranya was facing protection from some senior officials within Zimbabwe’s ruling party, ZANU-FP.

The country has persistently distanced itself from claims of harbouring Mpiranya.

Zimbabwe’s Immigration Principal Director, Clemence Masango, had earlier told the country’s parliamentary committee for Defence and Home Affairs that;

“Yes this has been topical in the local and international media. All efforts have been made to check on this allegation. We have no record within our systems of this person whether on a permit or refugee. The only refugee camp we have is Tongogara and everyone there is documented.”

“Interpol has written to us and enquired officially through local police structures. Investigations have been carried out and this person (Mpiranya) has not been found and police are on record saying they have not been able to find that person in Zimbabwe but their investigations are still underway. That is what I can say on that.”

Mpiranya is accused of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

He remains at large and is one of the most wanted men by the UN-backed tribunal.

Alongside powerful figures such as convicted génocidaire Theoneste Bagosora, Mpiranya is accused of participating in the planning, preparation and execution of a plan to exterminate the Tutsi in Rwanda.

With the ICTR currently in the process of winding up its business, atleast nine fugitives, including Mpiranya, remain at large. Others include alleged financier of the Genocide, Felicien Kabuga, believed to be hiding in Kenya, former defence minister Augustine Bizimana, Fulgence Kayishema (his case was referred to Rwandan judiciary), Aloys Ndimbati, Ladislas Ntaganzwa, Charles Ryandikayo, Pheneas Munyarugarama and Charles Sikibwabo, whose file has also been referred to Rwanda for trial.

The trio, Mpiranya, Kabuga and Bizimana, are generally regarded as the ‘big fish’ by ICTR and several officials at the tribunal have stated their wish for the 17-year old court to try these men before folding business.

As part of the completion mechanism of the tribunal, the International Residual Mechanism was instituted mid this year to take on any remaining cases until the end of 2014, when all activities are expected to be concluded.

The African Union-initiated Regional Task Force (RTF), established to hunt down the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) rebels, on Tuesday received 2,000 soldiers from the Ugandan army (UPDF) and 500 from South Sudan army (SPLA).

The 2,500 troops were handed over to RTF at their base in Yambio, the provincial capital of South Sudan’s Western Equatoria state.

Abou Moussa, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General, said the handover of the additional troops signal the RTF’s collective efforts to put an end to the activities of the LRA, which has caused untold suffering to populations in affected countries.

In March this year, four African countries, with the backing of the UN and the AU officially launched a joint military task force aimed at pursuing the LRA rebels and its elusive leader, Joseph Kony.

The first batch of the RTF initially comprised of about 5,000 soldiers from Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central Africa Republic (CAR) initially made up the first batch of the RTF.

These are nations that have been greatly affected by over two-decade of the LRA insurgency.

Mousa, also the Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), which coordinates UN efforts to address the threat posed by the LRA, further lauded efforts and commitment of these countries towards ending the insurgency, despite other pressing national priorities.

He pledged the UN’s continued support to the African regional body and other partners, in the implementation of the regional strategy against the LRA, which was adopted by the UN Security Council on 29 June 2012.

Moussa, who was on a two-day visit to South Sudan, however, emphasized the need for quick implement the strategy, if the RTF is to achieve its mandate against the LRA problem.

The UN, he acknowledged, have been very instrumental in addressing the threat posed by the LRA, specifically citing the UN Mission for Stabilization in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), which provide support to national authorities in the two countries in their responses to the LRA.

“The UN Peacekeepers have been offering military escorts and patrols in and around villages and towns where the LRA has been seen, thereby maintaining a level of security that has saved lives”, said Moussa, in a statement extended to Sudan Tribune.

Meanwhile, the AU Special Envoy for the LRA issue, Francisco Madeira, said the RFT, despite making some progress, still faces logistical, material and financial resource challenges, which limits their operations.

The event comes barely a week after 360 soldiers of the Forces Armées Centrafricaines (FACA) were handed over to the AU on 12 September, in CAR, while additional troops are also expected from the DRC in the near future.

Residents of Ngororero sector in Ngororero district have mobilised over Frw30million as their contribution to the Agaciro Development fund.

The money was raised at an event September 18 in Ngororero.

Mukaneza Clotirde an official of Ngororero district thanked the residents and encouraged them to continue their contributions to the Agaciro fund as a way of upholding their Value as citizens.