As the 30th commemoration begins this Sunday, 7 April of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed, including Hutu and others who opposed the genocide and the extremist government that orchestrated it, Amnesty International calls on the international community to urgently renew its commitment to ensure justice and accountability for the victims and the survivors.

While many perpetrators have been tried before national and community courts in Rwanda, as well as by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and by courts in Europe and North America under the principle of universal jurisdiction, recent developments underline the importance of urgently pursuing justice.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. The confirmed deaths of several of the most-wanted genocide suspects before they could face justice, and the indefinite suspension of the trial of another indictee due to age-related illness, show the importance of maintaining momentum to deliver justice for survivors and relatives of victims in Rwanda,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa.

Between May 2020 and November 2023, the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals’ (IRMCT) Fugitive Tracking Team confirmed the deaths of four of the most wanted fugitives indicted by the ICTR.

The remains of Augustin Bizimana, Minister of Defence during the genocide, were identified in the Republic of Congo in 2020. The IRMCT also confirmed that Protais Mpiranya, commander of the Presidential Guard, had died in Zimbabwe in 2006. He had been charged with responsibility for the murders of senior moderate leaders, including Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the President of the Constitutional Court, the Minister of Agriculture and the Minister of Information, as well as ten Belgian United Nations peacekeepers. It was also confirmed that Phénéas Munyarugarama, the commander of Gako military camp and the highest-ranking military officer in the Bugesera region during the genocide, had died in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002, and that Aloys Ndimbati, mayor of Gisovu, had died in Rwanda in 1997.

In May 2023, another genocide suspect and ICTR indictee, Fulgence Kayishema, who had been in hiding for decades, was finally arrested in South Africa. It was expected that he would be transferred either to the IRMCT in Tanzania or directly to Rwanda to face trial, but to date he remains in detention in South Africa facing immigration-related charges.

In August 2023, the trial of 90-year-old alleged chief genocide financier, Félicien Kabuga, who was caught after 26 years on the run, was suspended indefinitely due to age-related illness. The decision was made by appeal judges at the IRMCT following a ruling in June 2023 that Kabuga was unfit to stand trial as he was suffering from severe dementia. He was accused of funding and providing other logistical support to the Interahamwe militias, as well as promoting the broadcasting of genocidal hate speech by the Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM). Survivors expressed anger and disappointment following the court’s decision.

“To honour the memories of the victims of the genocide and to deliver justice for survivors and victims’ families, we urge states to recommit to the tireless and timely pursuit of justice, including through prosecuting suspected perpetrators through universal jurisdiction where appropriate,” said Tigere Chagutah.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amnesty International.

The official swearing-in ceremony for the new ECOWAS Parliamentarians was chaired by H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The event took place onThursday, 4 April 2024, at the Abuja International Conference Center in Nigeria.

The inaugural session was attended by Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the Nigerian Senate, H.E. Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, Chairperson of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers and Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, Right Honourable Sidie Mohamed Tunis, outgoing Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, and several other dignitaries.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu stated his readiness to support a proposal for the direct election of members of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States. “This principle is also in line with the spirit of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, and we believe this would ensure that citizens have a direct say in their representation and the legitimacy and credibility such a process will confer,” the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government said.

Addressing the opening ceremony, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, noted that the inauguration of the 6th Legislature attests to the entrenchment of democracy in West Africa. “Despite recent challenges, our Community remained determined to pursue democracy and good governance. It is for this reason that the ECOWAS Heads of State instructed at their last session that the people’s representatives should continue to play their role in the ECOWAS Parliament, even when unconstitutional changes of government occur in their home countries.” he said.

“Over the years, the ECOWAS Parliament has intensified its efforts to ensure that the aspirations of ECOWAS citizens are taken into account in the integration process. At this stage in the history of our Community, we are faced with the challenges of unity, security, good governance, and development. The task before us, and the 6th Legislature, is to work towards restoring unity in our Community, promoting security cooperation, and advancing good governance and development. The citizens of the Community aspire to improved security and living conditions,” Dr Touray added.

A total of 92 Parliamentarians took the oath of office before the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Community institution for a four (4) year term under the 6th Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have not yet sent any Parliamentarians to represent them in this sixth Legislature.

It should be recalled that the ECOWAS Parliament is an institution born of the determination of all ECOWAS Member States to work together to achieve regional integration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, will represent the President of the Republic of Seychelles, Mr. Wavel Ramkalawan, at the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The National Commemoration Ceremony, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday 7th April 2024, will commence with a wreath laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, occurred during 100 days, between 7 April to 15 July 1994 when over 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio and First Lady Fatima Bio have joined family members, well-wishers, and residents of Bonthe District to pay their last respects to the home calling of, the late Mr. Mark Moses Oladipo Simeon Bio, the elder brother of the President.

The funeral mass at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tihun, for Brother Simeon Bio, aged 77, was officiated by Reverend Fr. Samuel Von Tucker. He called the procession to order and directed the mass for the funeral.

The man of God, while delivering his message of homily, reminded the mourners of the death of Jesus Christ on a Good Friday and His resurrection, pointing out that the Bio family was in the town weeks earlier to mourn the death of their sister and mother figure, Mrs. Agnes Deen-Jalloh (Nee Bio). He called on the younger generation of the Bios to take over the responsibility of their family.

The first reading was taken from the book of Maccabees 12:43–45 by Mr. James Bio; the second reading was taken from the book of Romans 14:7–12 and was done by Ambassador Dr. Francess V. Anderson; and the gospel reading was taken from the book of John 14:1–6.

While giving tributes on behalf of all the children, Mr. Charlie Mark Bio said he was privileged to pay homage to his late father, born in August 1946 to the first daughter of the late Paramount Chief Charlie Kakpindi Bio. He said the late man started his education in Tihun and later became a sanitary inspector in the Bonthe district.

“The late man loved the family and was a father. Even with the large family, he was able to keep them together and teach them to love one another. My father showed me to believe that the Bio family is one big, wonderful family that always needs to be together and in peace. I pray that God continues to embrace his gentle soul and the souls of all the faithful departed. Rest in peace,” he concluded.

Mr. Bio extended their gratitude to His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, for keeping their family together and for embracing every family member. He noted that they were grateful to President Bio for taking care of their family and for transforming and bringing peace into their family.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Sierra Leone.