By George Murumba

31^st January 2011

Callixte Mbarushimana, a Rwandan rebel leader accused of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was on January 25^th transferred to the International Criminal Court [ICC].

Mr. Mbarushimana is the Executive Secretary of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda [FDLR], the most recent incarnation of Rwandan rebel groups established by Rwandan Hutus who were accused of orchestrating the 1994 genocide of Tutsis and moderate Hutu.

Arrested in France last October, the rebel leader is indicted for 11 counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the eastern Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu.  The Mbarushimana’s alleged crimes include murder, torture, rape, attacks against civilians, destruction of property, inhuman treatment and persecution.

His arrest was the result of almost two years of investigations by France, Germany, DRC, Rwanda and the ICC, into the activities of the FDLR.  UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the surrender of Mr. Mbarushimana to the ICC in The Hague by French judicial authorities.  He also welcomed the steps taken by the German judiciary to prosecute and try the President and Vice-President of the FDLR, who are also accused of having committed serious international crimes.

“…This cooperative burden-sharing in prosecuting individuals for serious international crimes will greatly advance the fight against impunity.  Legal action against FDLR leaders also reinforces efforts to demobilize and repatriate FDLR fighters, which would significantly contribute to stabilizing the eastern DRC”, the UN Chief said.

Mr. Mbarushimana’s case is the fourth on atrocities in the DRC before the ICC, the world’s first permanent court set up to try people accused of the most serious international offences like genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.  END.  Please log into www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.