Arrest of Rwanda Tribunal Indictee Idelphonse Hategekimana

The United States welcomes and applauds the recent arrest by the Government of the Republic of the Congo of Idelphonse Hategekimana, an accused leader of those who perpetrated the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. We are especially grateful for the personal and continuing attention that President Denis Sassou-Nguesso has given to this issue and his commitment to apprehend all indictees within the territory of the Republic of the Congo. Hategekimana, a target of the U.S. Rewards for Justice program, was transferred to the custody of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda yesterday.

We urge all states in the region and East Africa to follow the example of the Republic of the Congo and apprehend all persons indicted by the Tribunal who may be on their territory. Only through arrest of persons indicted by the Tribunal, as well as the disarmament, demobilization, and repatriation of other combatants, will peace and stability return to the region.