Capture After 22 Years: Rwanda’s Most Wanted Genocide Fugitive Fulgence Kayishema Seized
The 1994 genocide claimed the lives of more then 800,000 people
A war criminal wanted for his participation in the 1994 Rwandan genocide was recently discovered hiding in South Africa. Fulgence Kayishema had been on the run since 2001 when it was discovered he had orchestrated the killing of more than 2000 men, women, and children on April 15, 1994, at a church in Rwanda.
An estimated 800,000 people were killed in ninety days in what is described as one of the most brutal genocides in human history.
It was revealed during the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda that Kayishema attempted to burn a church with 2000 Tutsi people hiding inside. Failing to ignite the structure, he helped to use a bulldozer to collapse the building. Killing all those who had sought refuge inside.
He was charged with genocide, conspiracy to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity charges. However, when law enforcement went to arrest him, he had already fled.
The United States government themselves had offered a five million reward for information leading to his arrest. For over two decades, multiple agencies worked tirelessly to find Kayishema. While monitoring…
