Yes, Nkunda should stand trial. But I am not sure he should be extradited to Congo. I would like to see him sent to The Hague.
DR Congo renews demand for extradition of Nkunda
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has renewed its demand for the extradition of Tutsi rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, who was arrested last week in Rwanda following a joint military operation of the two neighboring countries.
Congolese Foreign Minister Alexis Thambwe Mwamba said on Wednesday that Kinshasa is seeking the extradition through a tripartite accord which also involves Uganda, as DR Congo and Rwanda have no formal cooperation agreement on that issue.
Kinshasa and Rwanda have yet to normalize bilateral ties which were severed after relations became chilled in the 1990s. Both countries expressed readiness for reopening their embassies after talks in December.
DR Congo wanted to extradite Nkunda immediately after Rwanda said the leader of the National Congress for the Defense of the People (CNDP) was arrested in its territory on Dec. 22. Kigali hopes that the renegade Tutsi general will be treated politically rather than in the hands of jurists.
Mwamba said Kinshasa does not agree with the idea and that the ex-general is a fugitive under an arrest warrant issued by DR Congo on charges of crimes committed in North Kivu province.
Comments