Callixte Gakwaya

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Callixte Gakwaya is a Rwandan lawyer. He was defence counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for Yusuf Munyakazi, a former businessman from Cyangugu. Prior to this he was an official in the national sports ministry and the head of the Irindiro Ballet of Rwanda.[1]

On February 28, 2006, his appointment to the ICTR garnered controversy when Aloys Mutabingwa, Rwanda's representative to the ICTR, revealed that Gakwaya was himself on a list of genocide suspects previously released by the Rwandan government to Interpol. [2]

He is not among the suspects named by the ICTR, and for this reason the Rwandan government has requested he be extradicted from Arusha to Rwanda. Rwandan authorities had never voiced their suspicions before Gakwaya was appointed lead attorney. [3] He used to work as an assistant lawyer within the defence team of Eliézer Niyitegeka, a former minister sentenced to life imprisonment.

In September 2006, Rwanda threatened to cut off all contact with the ICTR unless Gakwaya was fired. Gakwaya resigned on 18 September 2006.[1]

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b 'Genocide lawyer' quits tribunal, BBC News, 18 September 2006
  2. ^ Rwanda Says UN Lawyer On Most Wanted Genocide List, Hirondelle News Agency, March 02, 2006
  3. ^ Perturbation At the ICTR Caused By Arrest of a Lawyer Accused of Genocide
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