Despite Denials By Paul Rusesabagina, Rebel Leader Sankara Is Extradited From Comoros

NSABIMANA Callixte a.k.a Maj Callixte Sankara, the man who has been making media statements taking responsibility for attacks in Nyungwe forest national park and areas of south-western Rwanda, is in teh custody of the Rwanda Investigations Bureau (RIB).

Sankara calls himself the “spokesman” of the National Liberation Front (FLN) group. It is led by Paul Rusedabagina, the figurehead behind Hollywood movie “Hotel Rwanda”.

RIB said Tuesday morning in a statement: “The Rwanda Investigation Bureau has detained NSABIMANA Callixte a.k.a Sankara, while processing his criminal case file. Nsabimana has been wanted over several offences committed on Rwandan territory.”

The arrest of Sankara first emerged on April 15. Local media in the Indian ocean Islands of Comoros reported about his arrest, as he had been operating from there.

However, there was no official confirmation, which happened as Comoros had just had an election.

When news about the incident surfaced, Rusesabagina appeared on American broadcaster VOA’s Kinyarwanda service on April 22, saying Sankara was safe.

He said government of Rwanda had sent a high powered delegation to Comoros to negotiate Sankara’s extradition, but that the Island had refused.

In the comments with blogs associated to Rwandan dissidents, Rusesabagina’s group claimed the delegation to Comoros was led by RDF Chief of Defence Staff Gen Patrick Nyamvumba.

For past weeks, there has has been celebration on social media by Rwandan dissidents about the supposed failure of Rwanda to get Sankara.

In Rwanda, apart from The Chronicles, no local mainstream media reported about the arrest of Sankara, as there was no official comment on the issue in Rwanda.

Social media postings in Rwanda dismissed the information as rumours.

RIB in its statement today outlined the charges against Sankara as: “Formation of an irregular armed group; Complicity in committing terrorist acts; Conspiracy and incitement to commit terrorist acts; Taking persons hostage; Murder; and Looting.”

The agency added that Nsabimana’s case file will be submitted to the National Public Prosecution Authority in accordance with Rwandan criminal procedure law.

Meanwhile, immediately following the release of the RIB statement, Foreign Minister Dr Richard Sezibera was holding a press conference.

He appealed to foreign diplomats in Rwanda to engage their governments to help bring Rwandan dissidents to justice.

Sezibera cited David Himbara and Charlotte Mukankusi from Canada, who are both associates of Gen Kayumba Nyamwasa and have a group calling itself the Rwanda National COngress (RNC). Kayumba lives in South Africa.

He also said Rwanda would like Paul Rusesabagina who lives in Belgium and sometimes in the US.

In November 2005, President George W. Bush presented Paul Rusesabagina with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, at the White House in Washington, D.C. Rusesabagina received the award for reportedly sheltering people at the Hotel Milles Collines, hotel which he managed during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

The medal is presented to those who have made contributions to national security, world peace or culture.