Idelphonse Nizeyimana, former second in command, in charge of intelligence and military operations at ESO (Ecole des Sous Officiers), was on 5 October 2009 arrested in Kampala, Uganda by the National Central Bureau of Interpol of the Ugandan Police in collaboration with the tracking team of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The accused, who is the second to be arrested in the list of 13 fugitives in less than two months, was on 6 October 2009 transferred to the UN Detention Facility in Arusha.

Nizeyimana is one of the four top accused who are earmarked by the Prosecutor to be tried by the Tribunal in Arusha after their arrest as part of the ICTR completion strategy.

The accused, who was a Captain in the Rwanda Armed Forces, and was initially jointly charged with two others Tharcisse Muvunyi (case on re-trial) and Idelphonse Hategekimana (trial in progress), is facing five counts of genocide, or in the alternative complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and crimes against Humanity.

Nizeyimana, through the chain of command, is alleged to have exercised authority over soldiers and personnel at the camp and was perceived as a member of the elite inner circle (Akazu) of the late President Habyarimana. He is accused among other things of having sent a section of soldiers to the home of the former Queen of Rwanda, Rosalie Gicanda, a symbolic figure for all Tutsis and ordered her execution, which was subsequently carried out.

The accused is also alleged to have, planned, incited to commit, ordered, committed, or in some other way aided and abetted the planning, preparation of executions he is charged with.

This is the second time that Uganda has cooperated with the Tribunal in arresting an accused person. Nizeyimana’s transfer into the ICTR’s custody took place less than 28 hours after his arrest. The Tribunal has commended the Interpol and the Ugandan authorities for their close cooperation. This level of cooperation is highly appreciated and will assist the ICTR in discharging its mandate fully in the framework of its completion strategy. It is hoped that the ICTR will continue receiving similar support from other member states at this critical junction of its work. Eleven remaining accused persons are still at large.