Audio By Carbonatix
The court trying Rwandan genocide suspects is appealing for countries to give refuge for those acquitted, the UN tribunal's spokesman has told the BBC.
Five of 10 people cleared of involvement in the 1994 killings believe they cannot return to Rwanda.
They remain in a house in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, where the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is based, guarded by police.
The ICTR is due to wind up its trials by the end of this year.
Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred in 100 days in 1994.
'Burden'
ICTR spokesperson Roland Amoussouga told the BBC that finding countries willing to accept those acquitted of charges "was one of the key challenges facing the tribunal".
"It's a burden on us to continue hosting for so many years these acquitted people and we've worked with them and their lawyers to identify suitable countries were they can be sent. So far we have not been successful," he said.
The five men still living in Arusha and acquitted by the ICTR are all Hutus and include a former brigadier general, ex-ministers and a businessman.
They live together in a safe house and can go to town and to church, but otherwise cannot leave.
Andre Ntagerura - the former minister of transport - has been waiting nearly six years for refuge since his acquittal.
The five have been joined in the safe house by two others who have served their sentences, but also have nowhere to go.
BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says their fate resembles the detainees at Guantanamo Bay - the detention facility which the US wishes to close but whose inmates other countries are reluctant to take.
The men in Arusha have families in Belgium, Canada and France but so far they cannot get permission to join them, despite appeals to the UN Security Council.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Author Joanna Trollope dies aged 82
4 minutes -
CyberSafe Foundation, Google.org to launch major cybersecurity project to protect millions across Africa
7 minutes -
Economic Fighters League stands in solidarity with unemployed nurses and teachers
9 minutes -
2025 WASSCE Low Performance: The reality and expectations for academic achievement
11 minutes -
Germany accuses Russia of 2024 cyber-attack and disinformation
24 minutes -
Car completely destroyed by fire at Shiashie
25 minutes -
A-G surcharges former NSA officials Osei Assibey Antwi and Gifty Oware-Mensah; orders refund of GH¢2.4bn
27 minutes -
Hospitality industry pushes back against utility tariff hikes
27 minutes -
Transport Minister promises strict enforcement of road traffic laws as parliament passes Okada Bill
28 minutes -
Fresh twist in Daddy Lumba case: Court recalls lawyers, orders applicants to pay GH₵2m or funeral happens Saturday
50 minutes -
Source to survival: The unsung heroes fueling Ghana’s food security
60 minutes -
Ghana launches plan to value natural resources by 2034
1 hour -
NSA reminds NSPs of final deadline for regional validation exercise
1 hour -
Health Ministry launches Vax and Pharm Project to boost local and pharmaceutical production
1 hour -
NDC gov’t delivering a ‘reverse’ instead of a reset – Miracles Aboagye
1 hour
