Onesphore Rwabukombe, aged 53, was at the time mayor of Muvumba (North-East of Rwanda). He is accused of genocide, murder as well as incitement of genocide and murder.
It was the third time he had been arrested in Germany. A Frankfurt court ordered his release in November 2008 after four months in custody and he was again set free in May 2010 after five months because of lack of evidence.
A new German warrant was issued on July 21 following an investigation by the federal prosecutor. Rwabukombe was imprisoned on July 26.
German prosecutors said in a statement that Rwabukombe allegedly "ordered and coordinated" on three occasions, between April 11 and 15, 1994, for a pogrom against the Tutsis, with the result that at least 3,730 persons were murdered.
He is also accused of ordering a lower-ranking local official to turn away Tutsi refugees seeking shelter at his home, threatening otherwise to have his family killed. At least one of these refugees was subsequently killed by Interahamwe.
ER/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency