Augustin Ngirabatware, former Minister of Planning, who is facing charges of genocide and serious violations of international humanitarian law was today transferred from Frankfurt, Germany to the UN Detention Facility in Arusha, Tanzania.

Ngirabatware was arrested in Germany on 17 September 2007. He will soon make his initial appearance before Trial Chamber II composed of Judges William Sekule, presiding, Arlette Ramaroson and Solomy Bossa, to answer charges preferred against him.

The accused is facing nine counts charging him with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide; complicity in genocide; direct and public incitement to commit genocide; crimes against humanity for murder, extermination, rape, inhumane acts; and serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and of Additional Protocol II.

The UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda has expressed its gratitude to the German Government for the arrest, detention and smooth transfer of the accused person to Arusha.

Initially, Ngirabatware was jointly charged with Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda, former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research who, on 22 January 2004, was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for the remainder of his life, following dismissal of his appeal on 19 September 2005.