Rwanda calls on international police chiefs to apprehend genocide fugitives

Chief Terrence M Cunningham, president of the international Association of Chiefs of Police( left), Minister Johnston Busingye (centre) and Rwanda Natioanl Police Inspector General Gasana.

The International police chiefs have been called upon to take action and apprehend the 1994 Genocide against Tutsis fugitives who are still hiding or moving freely across the world.

The government says that 410 indicted men and women  suspected of masterminding , financing or carrying out the 1994 Tutsi genocide are still freely moving in about 30 countries across the world.

The call comes at the time when Kigali is hosting the executive  meeting for international association of chiefs of police  subs Saharan Africa on Sunday.

“We expect this to be a cause of concern in a meeting like this one,” said Johnston Busingye, Minister of Justice who is also the Attorney General said.

The meeting that brings  together all police  chiefs from the Sub Saharan is happening ahead of the 84 th session of the General Assembly for International police that kicks off on Monday in Kigali.

The minister also noted that the  emerging security threats are  homogenous and global and affects each nation equally, saying to address requires unity  which he says is not just  appropriate but rather  imperative for the success.

Currently, the law enforcers across the world are facing challenges of  human trafficking, illicit drugs, terrorism which   security experts say they are  sophisticated and need a more stronger approach.

“It’s a good step in the right direction particularly because it reaches beyond borders and building cooperation for sustainable security,” the Minister said.

Busingye also said that through  partnership and collaboration at multinational levels, criminals such as genocide fugitives can be apprehended.

“Rwanda believes that such a meeting is not just an occasion for police chiefs to meet and talk and then return to business as usual but a time for deep  reflection and recommitment  towards addressing security threats,” he said.

The minister added, “in the end its not what we talk that matter , it is the result of what we talked.”

To address these global challenges,Chief Terrence M Cunningham, president of the international Association of Chiefs of Police believes in the need to re-engage as well as   building community trust  by  police.

“We cannot be efficient as law enforcement without the support of the communities we serve,” he said.

During the meeting chiefs of police agree to the need for  stronger collaboration in  capacity building ,sharing timely  information  as one way of  curbing the multinational crimes that has taken toll on the  citizens.