Obed Ruzindana was arrested early in the morning on Friday 20 September 1996 by the Kenyan police. On Sunday 22 September Obed Ruzindana was transferred from Nairobi, Kenya, to the detention facilities of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania.

Obed Ruzindana is accused of conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity, a violation of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions, a violation of Additional Protocol II.

He was born in 1959 in Gisuvu, district of Kibuye, Rwanda. During the period referred to in the indictment, he was a businessman in Kibuye. After the genocide, he fled to Zaire, and then went into hiding in Nairobi. The ICTR served the Kenyan Government with his arrest warrant and his indictment in August 1996.

Obed Ruzindana was indicted by the ICTR in December 1995 together with seven other suspects, including Clement Kayishema, who is also currently detained in the ICTR detention facilities in Arusha.

In April, May and June, Obed Ruzindana took part in the Bisesero massacre in the district of Kibuye. He also took part in the killings of men, women and children who had taken refuge in the hospital of Mugonero, district of Kibuye.

The initial appearance of the accused will take place as soon as he has chosen a defence counsel and consulted him, which should take place within the next two weeks.

The Tribunal is very appreciative of the swift and efficient assistance proffered by the Kenyan Governrnent in the arrest and transfer to the ICTR of Obed Ruzindana.