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Interpellation on Kabuga – Rwanda: Why did Switzerland allow Kabuga to enter the country? – News

16 December 2022

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Green politician Christina Badertscher wants answers from the Federal Council about the role of Switzerland around Félicien Kabuga. She wants to know why Switzerland issued an entry visa to one of the most wanted men at the time – even though it was known that Kabuga financed the genocide in Rwanda.

The allegations against Félicien Kabuga weigh heavily: he is said to have played a central role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. At least 800,000 people were killed in the genocide in Rwanda within a few months.

Switzerland also comes into focus in connection with Kabuga. Because although his role was already known at the time, he received a visa from Switzerland after the genocide and entered the country in the same year.

There actually was a mistake.

The then Federal Councilor and Minister of Justice Arnold Koller said after the Kabuga case became known to Swiss television: “There actually was a mistake.” Koller had an investigation carried out as to why Kabuga and his family were able to enter Switzerland. The results of this investigation are still classified. And former Federal Councilor Koller himself no longer wants to remember the case today, as he tells Radio SRF.

Badertscher demands clarification

For Christina Badertscher, National Councilor of the Greens from the canton of Bern, this secrecy is incomprehensible: “I was in Rwanda at a conference in October. The discussions with the population showed me that the genocide is still a big issue. The processing is therefore important. This also includes providing information about the role played by Switzerland.”

Since September 2022, Félicien Kabuga, one of the masterminds and alleged financiers of the genocide in Rwanda, Africa, has been before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. Kabuga was on the run for 26 years. He lived unrecognized in Germany, Belgium and Switzerland, among other places. In May 2020, Kabuga was arrested by French police in a suburb northeast of Paris.

That is why the politician submitted an interpellation with numerous questions to the Federal Council, as she confirmed to Radio SRF. In particular, she wanted to know why Kabuga was able to enter Switzerland and later leave again. This despite the fact that the country was aware of Kabuga’s responsibility for the genocide. Badertscher wants to find out from the Federal Council whether Switzerland acted correctly in 1994 by deporting Kabuga instead of arresting him.

Legend:

Christine Badertscher, National Councilor of the Green Party.

Keystone/Alessandro della Valle

Badertscher wants to take further steps, depending on the Federal Council’s response. The Federal Council has until the spring session to answer the interpellation.