05.05.09 - ICTR/APPOINTMENT - RWANDA'S ENVOY TO ICTR APPOINTED EAC DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL

Arusha, 5 May, 2009 (FH)-The Rwanda's Special Representative to International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), Alloys Mutabingwa, has been appointed Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), a five-nation regional economic bloc, with immediate effect.

0 min 44Approximate reading time

The EAC members countries are: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

"I am delighted over the confidence bestowed upon me by the partner states and my own nominating country," he told Hirondelle Agency Tuesday. Mutabingwa was sworn-in before the five partner presidents during a summit meeting last week in Arusha.

The 42-year-old Mutabingwa was appointed Rwanda's special representative to ICTR in February, 2004, taking over from Martin Ngoga, who was appointed as his country's Deputy Prosecutor and later rose to become Prosecutor General.

Mutabingwa told Hirodelle that he would still represent his country at the ICTR, pending further notice.

The Arusha-based ICTR is trying key suspects of the 1994 genocide, which , according to UN, claimed lives of  about 800,000 people, mostly ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

Mutabingwa is a graduate of law from the University of Dar es Salaam,Tanzania, in 1997. He is also member of Bar of Rwanda and other international legal associations.

SC/GF

© Hirondelle News Agency