The Rwandan government said it was “concerned and worried” after two people convitced over their role in the 1994 genocide have been granted early releases from their prison sentences.
Ferdinand Nahimana and Emmanuel Rukundo, convicted to 30 years and 23 years respectively, have been held in prison in Mali, following their sentencing. However, the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT) has reportedly allowed both men to be considered for early release as they have “demonstrated some signs of rehabilitation”.
The move has angered some with Rwanda’s Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Johnston Busingye saying his government was “concerned and worried”. “We will seek to understand this latest release," he added.
Survivors of the genocide have also spoken out with the president of Ibuka, the umbrella group of Genocide survivors, stating:
"Why don't they consider the fact that Genocide is a very serious crime against humanity? What really is the basis for saying that these people demonstrated signs of rehabilitation? Did they ever show any remorse for their crimes? Did they ever help justice in getting information regarding what happened during the Genocide?
"Have these people even made any effort to show the world intent to fight genocide ideology and denial? The acts of Judge Theodor Meron and his colleagues, really, are incomprehensible. These acts, to us, appear as denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi."
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