Mutangana was speaking yesterday to the Senatorial Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Security while exchanging ideas on prosecuting runaway genocide suspects from outside the country.
He said that they still encounter challenges of countries which do not want to change their mindsets towards help in extradition of suspects.
“Actually, there is a political will challenge for some countries; the more genocide suspects are not arrested, the more genocide ideology continues to rise; so we have discussed this issue because during past 23 years, countries did not do enough to bring suspects to justice,” he told the media.
The National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA) says that they issued over 800 arrest warrants in 32 countries around the World. They say that they conducted investigations on other 500 people which they are planning to issue their arrest warrants. Also, 17,000 escapees were convicted on their role in the genocide by Gacaca courts while in absence.
According to NPPA, countries that drug feet in arresting genocide escapees include France, Germany, United Kingdom and other African countries.
Though many countries continue to exhibit reluctance, Mutangana said that there is optimism as the discussions and extradition treaties signing with different countries continue.
These countries include Zambia, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Malawi among others.
The State Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Community Affairs, Olivier Nduhungirehe said that they will continue diplomatic discussions so that genocide escapees at large will face justice.
“This is a case that we will collaborate with the Ministry of Justice and discuss with host countries so that they send them in Rwanda or they take them to justice from these countries as laws state. Discussions are ongoing as well as signing treaties,” he said.
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