Rwanda said it was an “outrage” for Britain to arrest its intelligence chief at the request of Spain, which wants him on war crimes charges, and suggested Western states were swayed by those behind the 1994 genocide while accusing Britain of “demeaning Africans” for the sake of pro-genocide lunacy.
Karenzi Karake, 54, director general of Rwanda’s National Intelligence and Security Services, was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on Saturday, British police said. He was remanded in custody to re-appear at the court on Thursday.
“Western solidarity in demeaning Africans is unacceptable!! It is an outrage to arrest Rwandan official based on pro-genocidaires lunacy!” Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo wrote on her Twitter account.
Britain’s embassy in Kigali said the arrest “was a legal obligation, following the issue of a valid European arrest warrant”, adding that it “greatly values the close relationship with Rwanda” and was committed to it for the long term.
The Rwandan foreign minister accused Spanish non-governmental organisations (NGOs), which she said were behind the arrest warrant, of backing the FDLR.
Justice Minister Johnston Busingye said Rwanda was working with the British government on the case.
“We will contest in the courts. We have sought explanation from the UK on this matter as well,” he said in remarks published by the New Times newspaper on its website.
