Rwanda is seeking extradition of four suspected masterminds of the country's 1994 genocide, including a medical doctor, who are living and working in Britain, the Justice Minister said today.
Rwanda says the wanted men have changed their identities which is hampering efforts to have them arrested and extradited to the tiny central African country to face charges related to the massacre of about 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Rwanda said it was seeking Munyaneza Charles, Celestin Ugirasebuja and Emmanuel Ntezilyayo, all former mayors accused of genocide related crimes. "All these fugitives are living a comfortable life in the United Kingdom but are surely key planners of the 1994 genocide," said Tharcisse Karugarama, Rwanda's Justice Minister.
Britain's Home Office said it would investigate any such allegations but would not comment on whether an extradition request had been received for a particular individual. "No one suspected of genocide in Rwanda can expect to enjoy impunity or to find haven in the UK.
Where such allegations are made, the government will establish the facts and, in the light of those, take whatever action is appropriate," a Home Office spokesperson said. A fourth suspect, Vincent Bajinya, worked for London-based charity Praxis until last month.
Praxis Director Vaughan Jones said he had not seen Bajinya since October 19th, when he received a letter from the BBC asking about the Rwandan. He has now been suspended by the charity.
"He was a medical doctor and he was employed by us to run training courses for health professionals who wished to work in the UK, particularly nurses," said Mr Jones.