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Election of traditional judges set for 4 October

    NAIROBI

    The long-awaited elections of judges for Rwanda's traditional courts that will preside over genocide cases has been scheduled for 4 October, the chairman of the Electoral Commission, Protais Musoni, told the Rwanda News Agency on Wednesday.

    The judges will be elected at the cell, sector, district and provincial levels of the Gacaca courts. Musoni said the elections will not be by secret ballot. Rather, voters will line up behind the candidates of their choice. Candidates are not allowed to solicit votes beyond introducing themselves but may refute allegations that might be made against them. Qualifications of eligibility to run for this office are that a candidate be able to read and write Kinyarwanda, national language, and be a person of integrity.

    "Anybody who challenges the moral integrity of the candidate shall be asked to substantiate the claim openly with vivid examples," Musoni said.

    Justice Minister Jean de Dieu Mucyo told RNA that the elections would be followed by a short training course for the judges.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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