Secretary-General Welcomes Surrender of FDLR Executive Secretary

 

Callixte Mbarushimana to International Criminal Court

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes today’s surrender of the Executive Secretary of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Callixte Mbarushimana, to the International Criminal Court in The Hague by French judicial authorities.  Callixte Mbarushimana is accused of having committed crimes against humanity and war crimes in the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In this connection, the Secretary-General also welcomes the decisive steps taken by the German judiciary to prosecute and try the President and Vice-President of FDLR, Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni, who are also accused of having committed serious international crimes.  In taking these steps, Germany is heeding the Security Council’s repeated call on all States to prosecute FDLR elements in their territories.

This cooperative burden-sharing in prosecuting individuals for serious international crimes will greatly advance the fight against impunity.  Legal action against FDLR leaders also reinforces efforts to demobilize and repatriate FDLR fighters, which would significantly contribute to stabilizing the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

It is also an excellent example of how international and national criminal courts can work together, in accordance with the principle of complementarity, to fight impunity and ensure that those alleged to have committed serious international crimes are held accountable.

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For information media • not an official record