FRANCE/RWANDADecision on Rwandan extradition request postponed: A French court on Tuesday postponed to September 12 its decision on Rwanda’s extradition request for Laurent Serubuga, former deputy chief of staff of the Rwandan army. Up to now the rare decisions in France to grant Rwandan extradition requests have all been overturned on appeal. Kigali accuses Serubuga of having helped organize the 1994 genocide. He was no longer exercising his official duties at the time of the genocide, but certain associations claim he took them up again after the assassination of former president Juvénal Habyarimana.
ICCMore than 40 witnesses to testify against Kenya’s Deputy President: International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced she plans to bring 42 witnesses to testify against Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto and journalist Joshua Sang, whose joint trial is set to start on September 10. The two men, both of whom are still free, are accused of crimes against humanity committed in their country in 2007-2008 post election violence. Former Member of Parliament Ruto was elected Deputy President in March despite the allegations against him.
Libya accused of not cooperating: The defence for Abdallah El-Senoussi, former head of military intelligence in Libya, says Tripoli is not cooperating. Despite being under an ICC arrest warrant, Senoussi is still detained in Libya, which says it wants to try him in a national court. In an application available on the ICC website, Senoussi’s British lawyer Ben Emmerson claims Tripoli will not allow him to meet with his client as requested by the Court.
NEXT WEEKBemba trial resumes: The trial of Congolese politician Jean-Pierre Bemba is set to resume Tuesday before the ICC. This will be the first hearing of the Court following the summer judicial break.
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