Kabuga Felicien

Well, I am not sure. Look,  France’s long-time indifference and complicity with the genocidaires are too large that they overshadow a late gesture like arresting the 84-year old Kabuga. It is a shame to the French intelligence and all the justice institutions that the world’s most wanted genocide fugitive like Kabuga has been living comfortably in their backyard despite several international efforts to apprehend him. Common wisdom would suggest that a criminal of this caliber should be hiding somewhere in the remote areas of Africa or the jungles of Argentina, much like the famous Nazi icon, Adolf Eichmann. Alas, Kabuga was happily living in a nice apartment equipped with high-speed internet and, of course, a hot shower, only 5 miles outside the capital, Paris!

It is not clear how long Kabuga lived in France. If Kabuga remained in France for a long time, it is highly unlikely that DGSE (the French version of CIA, FBI) was not tipped off. In case he moved to France quite recently, that might suggest the French government’s natural sympathy to the genocidaires and complicity in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Either way, it would not be surprising to me that Kabuga spent two decades looming free in the beautiful city of Paris because hundreds of other blood-handed Hutus are still enjoying safe haven in France until now anyway.

French authorities have been reluctant to bring to justice several Rwandan Genocide suspects living on their territory. Since the end of the genocide, there is no single genocide case, initiated by the French authorities on their own. All the active cases, including the case of Kabuga, are launched by a tiny and poorly funded Not-for-Profit Organization known as the Collective of Civil Parties for Rwanda (CPCR).

While arresting Kabuga marks a significant step in the right direction, it remains to be seen if survivors will have a chance to participate in this landmark trial and file reparation claims for the tremendous harm caused by Kabuga, also known as, the financier of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Ends.

Related articles:

• New York Times: Most wanted Genocide Fugitive, Felicien Kabuga, Arrested
• How the Southern Africa States Became a Safe Haven for Genocide Fugitives
• 200 most wanted Rwanda genocide criminals