AU expresses deep concern over arrest of Rwanda Intelligence Chief in London
The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), has expressed deep concern over the arrest of Rwanda’s Intelligence Chief in London on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by a Spanish Judge, and considers it as not only an attack on a Rwandan national, but on Africa as a whole.
The Council says it strongly condemns what it calls “the blatant violation of the principle of universal jurisdiction by some non-African States against African government officials and its implications for peace and security on the continent”, and stresses that this abuse threatens to reverse the hard-won security and stability in Rwanda and in Africa as a whole.
In a 15 point communique issued at the Council’s 519th meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia June 26, 2015, the Council condemned the arrest on June 20, 2015, of Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Karenzi Karake, Chief of the National Intelligence and Security Services of the Republic of Rwanda, who was on an official visit in the UK.
The Council reaffirmed its decision on the abuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction adopted by the 11th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from June 30 to July 1, 2008, which stressed the need for international justice to be conducted in a transparent and fair manner, in line with the principles of international law, and expressed concern that “the abuse of the principle of universal jurisdiction poses a threat to the efforts aimed at promoting the rule of law and stability, as well as at building strong national and regional institutions.”
Recalling among others, paragraph 8 of decision Assembly/AU/Dec.199 (XI), the Council called on all UN Member States, in particular the European Union (EU) Member States, to impose a moratorium on the execution of arrest warrants until all relevant legal and political issues have been exhaustively discussed between the AU, the EU and the UN.
Gen. Karake had travelled to the UK to meet an official of that country’s intelligence organization the MI6, the BBC reported. It noted that Karake, 54, was due to meet Alex Younger on June 18. The BBC citing unnamed sources, said the meeting was cancelled at the last moment and the general was arrested two days after he had entered the country.
A Spanish court is seeking his extradition to stand trial for war crimes. He is accused of ordering massacres during the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
Gen Karake appeared in a London court on Thursday and was granted a £1 million bail.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi