The deportation of a man who is suspected of inciting genocide from Canada last week is expected to pave the way for genocide suspects to be deported to and tried in Rwanda.

Last week’s deportation of 59-year old Leon Mugesera, who has lived in Quebec for 16 years, follows from the United Nations war crimes tribunal for Rwanda handing over another suspect’s case to Rwanda to face trial there, the first time it has done so.

Mugesera’s deportation was met with positive reactions from Rwandans, with Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo saying,

"The victims of Mugesera's speech are finally going to get justice. It's unfortunate that the extradition took so long, but it's still good news. It sends an important signal to all those who are being sought by Rwanda for their role in the genocide."

The decision follows criticism from Rwanda that genocide suspects hiding abroad were not facing justice and is thought to reflect the international community’s view that the country’s justice system has shown the capacity needed to take on the cases.

Rwandan Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga said that,

“The French have been the most disappointing, because, every other day, they arrest someone, the following day he is out. They have been the worst performing. They even failed to get the two cases that the ICTR gave them to take off.”

After referral from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to France the cases of Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, a former priest and Dominique Ntawukuriryayo, have yet to be tried.

The comments were echoed by Rwandan Minister of Justice Tharcisse Karugarama who commented,

“If they can’t extradite them, let them try them in their own countries,” he added.

He went on to say that Mugusera’s deportation

“is a strong message to genocide fugitives that they won’t live in comfort forever.

The long arm of the law will get them eventually.”