Another senior member of Rwanda's 1994 Interim Government, indicted for genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, has been arrested. Eliezer Niyitegeka, who was the Minister of Information in the Interim Government was arrested in Nairobi, Kenya, on 09 February 1999 by Kenyan law enforcement officials and transferred to the detention facilities of the International Tribunal in Arusha on 11 February 1999.

Niyitegeka's arrest and transfer were executed on the basis of a Warrant of Arrest And Order For Transfer And Detention issued by the ICTR.

The former senior Rwandan official is charged by the Tribunal with Genocide, Conspiracy to Commit Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity, (Murder, Extermination and Other Inhumane Acts) and Serious Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva Conventions. Niyitegeka is alleged to have personally attacked and killed persons seeking refuge in Bisesero, Kibuye Prefecture of Rwanda during the genocide in 1994.

Niyitegeka's arrest brings the number of accused persons detained under the authority of the ICTR to a total of 34. Of these, 33 are detained in the Tribunal's custody in Arusha, while one accused is presently detained in Texas, USA. The ICTR, which began its operations in November 1995, has so far convicted three individuals, including the former Rwandan Prime Minister Jean Kambanda. A fourth judgement is expected after the joint trial of Clement Kayishema and Obed Ruzindana, which ended in November 1998.