US Rewards for Justice programme to be extended to DRC

The US government initiative to arrest the organisers of the 1994 Rwandan genocide - the Rewards for Justice programme, which offers up to US $5 million for information - is to be extended to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a spokesman for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda told IRIN.

The eight Rwandans believed to be living in DRC are Augustin Bizimana, Jean-Baptiste Gatete, Augustin Bizimungu, Ildephonse Hategekimana, Augustin Ngirabatware, Ildephonse Nizeyimana, Protais Ntiranya and Callixte Nzabonimana. US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Pierre-Richard Prosper told reporters in Nairobi on 12 June that this group constituted the leadership of the Armee de liberation du Rwanda, which comprised the Hutu extremist Interahamwe; members of the former Rwandan armed forces and more recent recruits; and was fuelling the war in the DRC either through financial backing or in "commander roles".

Prosper added that, in principle, an agreement had been reached to open an office of the tribunal in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, and that the US would support the project. However, the tribunal’s spokesman, Kingsley Moghalu, told IRIN on Friday that while the decision had been reached there was no money for its implementation.

Prosper headed a delegation to the DRC in mid-June. Members included the tribunal’s registrar, Adama Dieng; the tribunal's director of investigations, Laurent Walpen; and the special assistant to the US president and senior director for African affairs, Jendayi Frazer. Prosper is expected to return in July to launch the new campaign. As in the case of Felicien Kabuga - thought to be hiding in, or frequently passing through Kenya -"wanted posters" and newspapers will be used to inform people of the reward on offer.