Fulgence Kayishema, a former Rwandan police officer accused of orchestrating the massacre of over 2,000 people seeking refuge in a church during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is seeking political asylum in South Africa. This move could significantly delay his extradition to Rwanda to face trial for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Kayishema, one of the last four fugitives sought by the UN's International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, was apprehended in Paarl, South Africa, after decades on the run. He faces charges related to the 100-day period of horrific violence in Rwanda in 1994.

The Rwandan genocide witnessed the slaughter of over 800,000 people, primarily Tutsis, by Hutu militias. The catalyst for this violence was the downing of a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, on April 6, 1994.

Kayishema is accused of leading a Hutu mob that attacked the church where Tutsis were hiding. When attempts to burn the church down failed, a bulldozer was used to demolish the building, killing those inside. The UN tribunal aims to extradite Kayishema to Arusha, Tanzania, and subsequently to Rwanda for trial.

Following his arrest in May, Kayishema was charged with numerous immigration offenses and fraud related to falsified documents used to enter and reside in South Africa. His lawyer, Juan Smuts, stated that Kayishema fled Rwanda in 1994 fearing for his life and lived in several African countries before arriving in South Africa between 2000 and 2002. Smuts also clarified Kayishema's age as 62, correcting previous reports. He argues that the immigration charges should be suspended while the asylum application is processed, a claim disputed by South African prosecuting authorities. The extradition process is expected to be delayed by at least two months, with Kayishema's South African court case postponed until August 18. He remains in custody without bail.

Image caption: Fulgence Kayishema in court in Cape Town, South Africa. (AP Photo/Nardus Engelbrecht, File)

The arrest of Kayishema has been welcomed by Rwandans, particularly survivors of the Nyange church massacre. Aloys Rwamasirabo, a survivor who lost nine children in the attack, expressed his desire for Kayishema to face justice in Rwanda. Kayishema, while appearing in court, waved and gestured to his family members present. His family currently resides in South Africa. The case has presented challenges for prosecutors at the UN tribunal, who previously located Kayishema in Cape Town in 2018. However, due to inaction by South African authorities, he evaded capture for another five years.