Bounty on heads of fugitives not going away–US envoy

A senior US government official has reiterated his country’s commitment to have notorious fugitives that are wanted to answer significant allegations about their involvement in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda tracked, arrested and brought to book.

Amb.Stephen Rapp.

Ambassador Stephen Rapp, the country’s head of Global Criminal Justice, confirmed at a news conference he addressed in Kigali that although ICTR has remained a residual institution, his office has a responsibility to work towards bringing the fugitives to justice.

With six fugitives on the loose, through its reward for justice, the US is determined to help justice by parting with 30 million US dollars (Rwf, 18bn) to people giving reliable information that will help in the arresting and bringing the fugitives to justice.

Other most sought after suspects that are still at large include Felicien Kabuga, the suspected chief financier of the Genocide, whose whereabouts are not known. Others are Protais Mpiranya, the former commandant of the notorious Presidential Guard, and former Minister of Defence, Augustin Bizimana.

Each fugitive has 5 million US dollars (Rwf, 300mn) bounty on his head.

Rapp noted that for the last 13 years he has been the US’s envoy for criminal justice, he has authorised 13 rewards to be paid for information leading to the arrest and transfer to Arusha of people wanted by the ICTR.

He said that the reward is always 5 million US dollars and payment depends on how much information the person gives, if it leads to arrest, whether it puts the family [of the informant] in danger and how high level the suspect was.

“Sadly, Kabuga, Protais Mporanyi and Augustin Bizimana are still at large. It is important to bring these persons to justice,” he said.

“International warrants run in the benefit of Kigali. The warrants have an international character, we shall pay rewards for information leading to arrests,” he added.

The Ambassador said that it is only through justice that Genocide shall be prevented. “We send the signals that; look, if you commit this kind of crime, there is no rest for the rest of your life, the world shall track you down and bring you to justice,” he stressed.

Amb. Rapp who visited the DRC told reporters that he delivered a strong message against xenophobia and that under no circumstances should anyone target the civilians because of what is happening between the armed groups.

Rwanda’s chief prosecutor who was speaking during the same news conference, welcomed the indictment of Sylvestre Mudacumura by the ICC but called for collaborative efforts to have him arrested and arraigned before court.