Genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda: Fulgence Kayishema seeks asylum in South Africa

New hearing Tuesday, June 20 for Fulgence Kayishema. The former police inspector was arrested last month for his alleged role in the massacre of 2,000 Tutsis who took refuge in a church during the genocide in Rwanda. He was one of the fugitives still wanted by the UN mechanism and was found in Paarl, not far from Cape Town. He is now heard by the South African justice, which learned on Tuesday that he wanted to file an asylum application.

Rwandan genocide suspect Fulgence Kayishema appears before the Cape Town Magistrates' Court in Cape Town, South Africa, May 26, 2023. REUTERS - NIC BOTHMA

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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès

Fulgence Kayishema appeared once again on the benches of the Cape Town courthouse, a Bible at his side. While the court expected to hear a bail application, his lawyer, Juan Smuts, indicated that instead he wanted to apply for political asylum, believing he feared for his life.

For the time being, the sexagenarian is only prosecuted by the South African justice for about fifty offenses committed in the country, such as accusations of fraud or contravention of the law. But, eventually, he could be transferred to Arusha and then Kigali to be tried for crimes related to the genocide.

>> READ ALSO: Rwanda: arrest in South Africa of one of the last fugitives wanted for genocide

His lawyer believes that this request for asylum would be likely to delay the transfer procedure a little more, since he says: "The result of such a request thus implies the suspension of the extradition measures of my client." South Africa's prosecutor's office said the new developments were unlikely to have an impact on the case, and said it was gathering new evidence.

The next hearing is scheduled for 18 August. In the meantime, Fulgence Kayishema remains in pre-trial detention.

>> READ ALSO: Genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda: how analysts found in South Africa one of the last fugitives

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• Rwanda
• South Africa
• Justice