Murderer of Belgian paratroopers deported to Rwanda

Former ex-Bernard Ntuyahaga, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the court of assizes in 2007 for his share in the murder of ten Belgian paratroopers in Kigali in 1994, has today been deported to Rwanda. This is confirmed by the Immigration Office, which reports that the man was “repatriated” to his country of origin.

Ntuyahaga’s nuns had yesterday and this morning received a letter from the cabinet of Minister for Asylum and Migration Maggie De Block (Open Vld) in the hope of meeting her. That did not work. His daughter, through a letter to Minister De Block, had asked Ntuyahaga not to return to Rwanda, because he would be exposed to “inhuman and humiliating treatments”. Ntuyahaga himself also said that he fears being murdered if he is sent back to Rwanda, because of his role in the Rwandan genocide.

Asylum application in Belgium

The former major was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2007, and stayed in the closed centre in Steenokkerzeel. He filed an asylum application in Belgium in June, which was rejected by the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons. It also did not add a “non-refunding clause” to Rwanda, and to the decision, which allowed the man to be repatriated. Ntuyagaha appealed to the Council for Aliens Disputes, but confirmed the decision of the CGRS. “Today, the possibilities for appeal are exhausted,” according to the Immigration Office.

“Guarantees”

“The Court of Justice in Strasbourg no longer opposes the removal of Bernard Ntuyahaga to Rwanda since the Rwandan government has given written assurances that the person concerned will not undergo inhuman or degrading treatment upon his return to his country,” DVZ said. “His presence in Belgium is no longer justified.”