72-year-old Rwandan genocide suspect extradited from the Netherlands

Rwandan genocide suspect Venant Rutunga arrived at Kigali International Airport on Monday after being extradited from the Netherlands.

CAPE TOWN, July 27 (ANA) – Rwandan genocide suspect Venant Rutunga arrived at Kigali International Airport on Monday after being extradited from the Netherlands.

Rutunga, 72, was met by Rwandan authorities, according to a statement from the spokesperson of the Rwandan National Public Prosecution Authority (NPPA), Nkusi Faustin.

Rutunga’s alleged crimes occurred in the former Butare Prefecture where he was the director of the Region du Plateau Central of the Institut of des Sciences Agronomiques Rwanda (ISAR RUBONA).

Over 1,000 Tutsis went to seek refuge at ISAR RUBONA during the Rwandan genocide of 1994, where Rutanga allegedly alerted soldiers to their arrival immediately, and the soldiers killed them, according to The New Times.

The Butare Prefecture is now Huye district, roughly 100km south of the capital Kigali, and ISAR RUBONA is an agricultural institute located in Huye district, local publication The New Times reported.

“The NPPA commends Dutch judicial authorities for the extradition of genocide suspects, continued co-operation in mutual legal assistance and to the global effort to fight impunity,” the NPPA’s statement read.

Rutanga was arrested by Dutch authorities in March 2019 after an indictment was issued by the NPPA’s Genocide Fugitives Tracking Unit, according to The New Times.

“His extradition was confirmed by the Minister of Justice & Security in April 2020. In Dec 2020 & May 2021, Dutch courts rejected his appeals,” the Rwandan ambassador to the Netherlands Olivier Nduhungirehe tweeted on Monday night.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher