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Today, released Rwandan Prisoners living in a safe house in Tanzania were sent to Niger.
This Tribunal (ICTR) created by the west, mainly the USA was a major disaster for many reasons, as we all know.
One major failure is that it did not permit acquitted persons to rejoin their families, most of whom are in Europe, Canada, Britain and the USA. Europe, Britain and the USA: these former slave owning and slave trafficking countries and bloody colonizers of Africa (and elsewhere) set up the ICTR to judge the losing side of the RPF war of aggression on Rwanda. When men were acquitted, these countries refused to allow them to come and live with their families in Europe or Canada. Gros hypocrisy. Many men lost twenty years of their life, first in prison and then “held” in a safe house in Tanzania.
Some of these men were acquitted by the Tribunal, but some had been convicted on lesser charges and were released from prison after serving their sentences. The distinction between these men and the acquitted has some legal consequences even though we know they were all innocent of the charges trumped up against them by Kigali and the ICTR prosecutor. They all deserve our respect.
They were offered a chance to go to Niger and had to sign that they accepted the offer “freely”. But really, they had no choice since their housing, health care and support in Tanzania was being eliminated by the Mechanism/Tribunal.
They had to sign a document which includes terms such as “I express my desire and decision to be resettled in the Republic of Niger (tr.))” and that the decision was made “willingly and voluntarily, without coercion, inducement or threat from the Mechanism or any other person or entity (tr.)”
They will be housed for one year with an indemnity of 10,000$, with no health care, an identity card and a guarantee against extradition to Rwanda. Most of the men are rather old and need regular medical care. The Tribunal/Mechanism is washing its hand of all responsibility for the former prisoners. These men will be on their own.
Niger is very hot and dry and is infested with Islamic terrorists financed most likely by the Gulf allies/USA/Grande Bretagne/Europe. The city of Niamey is apparently safe. It is not an easy environment for Rwandans accustomed to a temperate climate.
We admire and thank the République de Niger for its generosity and openness. I personally visited Niger last October for a congress of the African Bar Association. We were well received, and this largely Muslim country made a good impression.
Future support
Rwandan prisoners in Africa may receive some welcome support. We have been informed of an effort by some Rwandans in Europe to intervene and support the Rwandan prisoners in Mali, Benin, Senegal and now in Niger. This is a good step, and we will support this effort if it materializes.
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