ICTR Fires Gakwaya

Here’s my definition of a very bad week — first you’re arrested on suspicion of genocide, then you lose your job:

The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) on Wednesday cancelled the contract of a member of the defence council, Callixte Gakwaya, after being suspected of committing genocide.

The case of Gakwaya had recently caused tension in relations between the regime in Kigali and the ICTR.

The measure comes after Rwanda threatened to stop cooperation with the ICTR if Gakwaya continued working for the tribunal.

As an investigator for the defence since June 2001, Gakwaya was appointed in June 2005 as the prime defence lawyer for an ex- militia officer, Youssouf Munyakazi, whose trial is pending.

Gakwaya is currently in exile in Maputo, Mozambique, after having been arrested and later released early September by the Tanzanian police.

Although the ICTR’s decision seems eminently sensible, I can’t help but wonder what effect it will have on Munyakazi’s defense. Given that Gakwaya was his “prime defence lawyer,” it behooves the ICTR to delay the trial long enough for a new appointed lawyer to familiarize himself with the case.

More as the case develops.

Hat-Tip: Charles Bobis, Chris Borgen’s colleague at St. John’s.