ICTR gives go-ahead for first “mega-trial”

Judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the first joint trial of six top Rwandan genocide suspects, the independent Internews agency reported. It cited ICTR spokesman Kingsley Moghalu as saying the decision “could have an important implication for the course of other trials”. The six are accused of conspiring to commit genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Butare prefecture. They include former minister for family and women’s affairs Pauline Nyiramasuhuko, who was initially jointly charged with her son, Arsene Shalom Ntahobali, an alleged Interahamwe militia leader. Others include Sylvain Nsabimana and Alphonse Nterziryayo, both of whom were former governors of Butare. Joseph Kanyabashi and Eliye Ndayambaje, initially charged separately, are former mayors of Ngoma and Muganza respectively in Butare prefecture. The trial is expected to begin next year.