Nairobi, Kenya - A Belgian missionary arrested in Rwanda on suspicion of involvement in the 1994 genocide will be tried in his country.
Fr Guy Theunis MAfr was brought before the High Court in Kigali on Tuesday 8 for the hearing of a government request to transfer him to a Belgian jurisdiction.
"The few remaining procedures should be completed by Friday afternoon so that he can leave on the Saturday evening flight to Belgium", Solicitor General Hermogene Higiro said after the court hearing.
Fr Theunis was arrested on September 8 on his way to Belgium from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Two days later he appeared before a traditional court (Gacaca), which placed him on the first category of genocide suspects.
The Belgian priest worked as the editor of Rwanda's periodical 'Le Dialogue.' He has denied allegations that he incited the genocide by reproducing articles from the 'Kangura,' a newspaper that promoted the killing of members of the Tutsi ethnic minority.
"I was welcomed well by everyone [in Kigali's central prison]. I met some old friends there. The place is not so good, but the spirit is quite good," said Fr Theunis.
He said he was looking forward to returning to Belgium. "I have been out of this country for a long time, so I don't understand how things work here these days. I would rather be in Belgium, which I know better." On September 28, Belgium requested Rwanda to handover Fr Theunis for trial there.