Canadian authorities charge Rwandan man with war crimes News
Canadian authorities charge Rwandan man with war crimes

[JURIST] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police [official website] on Wednesday arrested and charged a Rwandan man living in Toronto with war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the 1994 genocide in Rwanda [JURIST news archive]. Desire Munyaneza, 39, faces seven charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act [text], making him the first person to be charged since the Act was passed in 2000. The RCMP said the arrest was the result of a five-year investigation by its war crimes unit [official website], along with help from the UN International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda [JURIST news archive]. Authorities did not indicate what action would be taken against Munyaneza. Under the War Crimes Act, the Canadian government can deny a suspect refugee status, revoke citizenship, prosecute them or extradite them to an international tribunal for prosecution. The RCMP has a news release on the arrest. CBC News has more.