The International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT) will officially shut down its office in Kigali, marking the end of nearly 30 years of operations related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
During a press conference in Kigali, on Thursday, February 15, the mechanism’s registrar, Aboubacar Tambadou, announced the decision to close the Kigali field office. This move comes as the Arusha branch of the mechanism, responsible for handling cases related to the genocide, no longer has any ongoing trials.
The closure decision was influenced by the conclusion of the case against Felicien Kabuga last year, who was the final individual on the IRMCT’s wanted list. With Kabuga’s arrest in 2020 and the confirmed deaths of Augustin Bizimana and Protais Mpiranya, the mechanism’s pursuit of fugitives reached its final phase.
Despite the closure of the Kigali field office, Tambadou emphasized that the IRMCT remains committed to engaging with Rwanda in various activities as mandated under its statute. While some services will transition to the Rwandan government or non-governmental entities, the mechanism will maintain its presence in Arusha to continue delivering crucial services, such as the protection of witnesses.
The decision to close the Kigali office signifies a pivotal moment in the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide, with the IRMCT’s efforts now shifting to the conclusion of its mission and the transition of responsibilities to facilitate continued justice and reconciliation in Rwanda.
