Countries affected by civil conflicts in Africa have commended Malawi for its position to converge all refugees in designated camps, saying doing so separates victims from perpetrators and fugitives, Malawi Gazette has established.
Malawi has since the early 90s hosted thousands of refugees from war torn countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Burundi. With time, it has been established that some of the refugees have a dark history of perpetrating gruesome killings in their countries.
The recent operation to relocate refugees back to Dzaleka camp has unearthed exposed some of these perpetrators who have transitioned from their past to become businessmen and women especially in Lilongwe City.
A statement from Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority dated 12th June 2023 shows Kigali appreciating Malawi’s efforts in the arrest and extradition of fugitive Theoneste Niyongira also known as Kinyoni.
Kinyoni has been hiding in Malawi, under the pretext of a businessman, but has been on Rwanda’s wanted list for many decades after the 1994 genocide. He is accused of perpetrating genocide committed in former Ndora Commune, Butare Perfecture.
“The NPPA commends Malawi authorities for the deportation of Mr. Niyongira, as well as the collaboration in the effort to fight impunity,” reads the statement.
With these revelations, this proliferation into Malawi of warlords and arms from conflict zones across Africa justifies government’s position to converge all refugees in designated camps.
Kinyoni is not the first case out of Malawi to involve a fugitive. Years back, Malawi also extradited one Vincent Murekezi who was wanted in Rwanda for genocide.
And just recently, another Rwandan fugitive arrested in South Africa, Fulgence Kayishema, was found to have been using a Malawian passport under the name Positani Chikuse.
Going by recent revelations by Minister of Homeland Security Zikhale Ng’oma that there are over 40 warlords in Malawi, it comes as a right path to have a headcount of all refugees.