French Courts Suspend Judical Control in and completely dismiss the Rwandan Government Case Against Rafiki Muhindo Hyacinthe

Former Rwandan Public Works Minister Rafiki Hyancinthe Muhindo who was under judicial control in France since September 28, 2011 following a brief detention over an INTERPOL notice initiated upon the request of the current Rwandan government has been definitely cleared today on February 29, 2012, by French courts of the accusations leveled against him. He was accused by the current Rwandan government of participating in or leading 1994 Rwandan massacres.
On September 28, 2011 the French courts temporarily dismissed the case after the Rwandan government failed to bring in allocated period the requested formal accusations (see our September 28, 2011 article:French Courts Dismiss Rwandan Government Case Against Rafiki Muhindo Hyacinthe). Also, based on sources in France and according to the judgment, French judges determined the case to be frivolous because of the contradictions in the accusations and the material facts. However, the Rwandan governement brought in new material and testimonies. Based on the new material and testimonies, the French court decided to release Hynacinthe Rafiki, while maintaining him under judicial control.
The Rwandan government, whose leader Geneal Paul Kagame is accused of assassinating his predecessor has been lobbying the French goverment and judicial system to have Hyancithe Rafiki judged in France or extradited to and prosecuted in Rwanda. The lobbying and intense media and diplomatic campaign financed by the Rwandan government started when Rafiki Hyacinthe participated as a National Democratic Congress (NDC) leader in Rome and Kisangani peace efforts aimed at getting Rwandan rebels based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to peacefully repatriate to Rwanda.
NDC is a coalition between two armed opposition parties, the Rally for Unity and Democracy (RUD-Urunana) and Rally for Rwandan People (RPR-Inkeragutabara).
The Rwandan government intelligence services hired a consultant, Rakiya Omaar to build a case against Rafiki Hyancinthe. Attempts to kidnap Rafiki Hyacinthe while on a MONUC airplane in the DRC and bring him to Rwanda were thwarted by Congolese security services.
Following the failed kidnap attempt, the Rwandan government lobbied INTERPOL and got Rafiki Hyacinte on the wanted list. He was arrested in France in August 2011 and detained until September 28, 2011.
In today’s judgment, the French court pointed to several false accusations leveled by the Rwandan government, inaccuracies, and contradictions in Hyacinthe Muhindo Rafiki’s case. Around five representatives of the Rwandan government who were present in the court and who were contacted by our correspondents appeared satisfied with the outcome. Some stated to AfroAmerica Network off the record that the case was so flawed that the Rwandan government risked a ridicule if it was to proceed forward. Hence, unofficially the case dismissal was a welcome outcome by the Rwandan government.
In dismissing the case and suspending the judicial control, the French judges returned the passport to Hyacinthe Rafiki Muhindo and declared him a free man, free to reside in France and travel wherever he pleases.
It is expected that during the upcoming month of March 2012, the French court will also make an important decision in perhaps the most important pending case of the 1990s: the assassination of the late Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana by his successor, General Paul Kagame.
©2012 AfroAmerica Network.