ITCR EFFORTS TO LOCATE RWANDAN FUGITIVES

S E C R E T KINSHASA 000784 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM ICTR CG SUBJECT: ITCR EFFORTS TO LOCATE RWANDAN FUGITIVES Classified By: Ambassador William Garvelink for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) Summary: ICTR Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow told the Ambassador on September 9 that the ICTR has located 5 suspected Rwandan "genocidaires" on Congolese territory. The ICTR is attempting to engage MONUC and the GDRC to step up efforts to apprehend the fugitives. The GDRC, while willing to assist, is asking for $20,500 for intelligence collection targeting the suspects. In a follow-up conversation, MONUC officials told us that, in principle, MONUC would support GDRC operations to apprehend Rwandan fugitives, but would need to verify with its legal staff that such action would fall under its mandate. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On September 9, Ambassador met with ICTR Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow to discuss ICTR efforts to locate and apprehend Rwandan genocidaires in the DRC. According to Jallow, ICTR has located 5 of the wanted fugitives. All five are in relatively inaccessible areas of North Kivu, requiring the use of "specialized equipment" to go after the suspects. Originally, the ICTR had wanted to transfer the suspects to Rwanda, but the GDRC vetoed this idea. ¶3. (S) The ICTR, Jallow noted, cannot undertake any law enforcement activities, so it is dependent on MONUC and the GDRC in this area. The ICTR was therefore attempting to persuade both entities to become more involved. However, Jallow said that the GDRC was asking for $20,500 to help fund informants for intelligence collection, as the GDRC did not have adequate field collection capabilities. ¶4. (C) Ambassador underscored that the USG was strongly supportive of ICTR efforts to engage both MONUC and the GDRC to apprehend genocidaires. RSO briefed Jallow on the USG's Rewards for Justice program, pointing out that post had received 8 credible leads in August and 93 credible hits since May 2008. Post forwards all such leads to ICTR investigators in Kigali. ¶5. (C) Jallow said that the Congolese should be "fed up" with ICTR fugitives using Congo as a safehaven. The ICTR, according to Jallow, would step up its PR campaign in Congo, primarily through the UN's nationwide radio station, Radio Okapi. Moreover, the ICTR was considering establishing a permanent presence in Kinshasa under the UN umbrella. Jallow added that the ICTR has received information on Rwandan genocidaires from a broad range of governments in the region, including South Africa and Uganda. ¶6. (C) PolCouns followed up on September 18 with Marcella Favretto, Deputy Head of MONUC's Human Rights Office. Favretto, who attended Jallow's meeting with UN SRSG Alan Doss, said that Doss had agreed in principle to assist the GDRC, should it request support for such an operation. Doss reportedly cautioned, however, that MONUC's legal office would have to give assurances that this operation would fall under MONUC's mandate. Favretto emphasized that the GDRC would have to take the lead with any law enforcement action, with MONUC providing logistical and technical assistance. GARVELINK