Norwegian authorities will extradite a man accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, police confirmed on Friday.
The man, whose name has not been made public, is wanted in Rwanda for allegedly murdering during the genocide, which claimed the lives of around 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over 100 days following the assassination of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana.
He was arrested in October 2022 by Kripos, Norway’s national criminal police service. After months of legal proceedings, Norwegian courts concluded that extradition was lawful.
In September 2023, Oslo’s district court determined that the requirements for extradition had been met. The decision was upheld by an appeals court in April 2024. The suspect then took his case to Norway’s Supreme Court, which dismissed the appeal in June 2024.
Credit: REUTERS/Jean Bizimana
With no remaining legal avenues, Norway’s justice ministry approved the extradition in February, and the final decision was confirmed by the Council of State.
“The accused will now be extradited to Rwanda, where he is set to stand trial for his alleged role in the genocide,” said police attorney Thea Elise Kjaeraas in a statement.
Norway is among several Western countries that have received extradition requests related to the Rwandan genocide in recent years.
Since 2009, courts in at least six Western nations have issued convictions in such cases, reflecting a growing international commitment to accountability for crimes against humanity.
