UN’s Rwanda tribunal voices concern about arrest of defence counsel in Tanzania

The Registrar of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) today expressed his concern about the arrest of one of its lawyers by Tanzanian authorities.

Calixte Gakwaya, who is the leading defence counsel in the trial of Yusuf Munyakasi, was taken into custody on Friday in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, according to a media statement released by the ICTR.

The Tribunal’s registrar, Adama Deng, has requested an explanation from the local authorities. He noted that the ICTR did not receive any prior notice of an intention to arrest Mr. Gakwaya and that it had not engaged in any prior consultations with Tanzanian police regarding the case.

As soon as the Tribunal learned of Mr. Gakwaya’s arrest, it took appropriate measures to secure his welfare, the statement said. Security officers have visited and spoken with him several times, and the ICTR’s security chief has met with his counterpart in the Tanzanian police to discuss the case.

Mr. Deng noted that the UN and Tanzania have agreed on certain immunities for lawyers representing those accused before the Tribunal and added that Mr. Gakwaya had travelled to Tanzania in his official capacity.

Mr. Deng observed that he has no warrant of arrest to execute from any government and that he exercises his functions independently from the interests of the parties before the ICTR or from external pressures.