Vincent Rutaganira, former Councillor of Mubuga, Gishyita Commune, Kibuye prefecture, was transferred to the UN Detention Facility in Arusha on Monday 04 March 2002. He was arrested at Kigoma in Western Tanzania by Tanzanian authorities at the request of the Tribunal. A duty Counsel has already been assigned by the Registrar to assist the accused in the preliminary stages of the procedure before the Tribunal.

Rutaganira (62), who was born in Gishyita, will shortly appear before a Judge of the Tribunal to answer charges accusing him of being involved in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. According to the indictment, Rutaganira is charged with seven counts of genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, crimes against humanity for murder, extermination and other inhumane acts and violations of the Geneva Conventions.

He is alleged to have conspired and participated with others, including Ignace Bagilishema, whose case is before the ICTR Appeals Chamber, Clement Kayishema and Obed Ruzindana, who have already been convicted by the Tribunal, to kill Tutsis in Kibuye prefecture between 9 April and about 30 June 1994.

Tribunal authorities have thanked the Government of Tanzania for its continued co-operation in ensuring that the mandate of the ICTR was fulfilled.