Rwanda genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga should be considered for release: UN Judges

By Edwin F -

UN judges have said that Rwanda genocide suspect Felicien Kabuga should be considered for release due to his advanced age and ill health. Kabuga, who is 84 years old, has been in custody since 2020 awaiting trial for his role in the 1994 genocide.

The judges said that Kabuga is suffering from a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. They also said that he is at risk of contracting COVID-19.

The judges said that Kabuga's health conditions mean that he is unlikely to be able to stand trial in the near future. They also said that his detention is no longer necessary to ensure his appearance for trial.

The judges' decision has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have argued that Kabuga should be released on humanitarian grounds, while others have argued that he should remain in custody until he can stand trial.

The decision is now up to the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), which is responsible for overseeing the prosecution of international crimes in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. The Mechanism will now decide whether to release Kabuga or to keep him in custody.

If Kabuga is released, he will be the first suspect to be released from the Mechanism's custody. The Mechanism has previously said that it is committed to bringing all suspects to justice, but it has also acknowledged that the health of some suspects may make it impossible for them to stand trial.

The decision to release Kabuga is a sensitive one, and it is likely to be controversial. However, the judges have made their decision based on Kabuga's health, and they believe that it is the right thing to do.

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