Milestones of the ICTR

* 8 November 1994: The United Nations Security Counsel adopts the Resolution
955 to establish the International Criminal Tribunal for
Rwanda.

ICTR CHRONOLOGY

* 24-25 May 1995: The UN General Assembly elects six judges on the
proposal of Secretary General after the submission
of candidates by States.

* 8 September 1995: Andronico Adede is appointed Registrar by the
Secretary General of the UN.

*
27 November 1995: The Tribunal begins work at its headquarters,
located at the International Conference Center in
Arusha, Tanzania.

* 28 November 1995: Confirmation of the first indictment, issued against
Clément Kayishema, Charles Sikubwabo,Aloys
Ndimbati, Ignace Bagilishema,Vincent Rutaganira,
Mikaeli Muhimana, Obed Ruzindana and Charles Ryandikayo for Genocide, Crimes against Humanity
and Violations of Article 3 Common to the Geneva
Conventions of 1949.

* 19 and 20 December 1995: The Prosecutor makes his first visit to Kigali, to
establish cooperation with Rwandan authorities.

* From 8 to 12 January 1996: Adoption of the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

* 11 January 1996: First public hearing of the Court, on a request for
Deferal issued to Belgium concerning three Accused
persons.

* 26 May 1996: Three Accused were transferred from Lusaka to the
prison of the International Tribunal (Akayesu,
Rutaganda, Kayishema).

* 30 May 1996: Initial appearance of the Accused before the
Tribunal. Jean-Paul Akayesu and Georges Rutaganda.

* 1 October 1996: Appointment of the Prosecutor Louise Arbour.

* 9 January 1997: Opening of the first trial against Jean-Paul Akayesu.

* 26 February 1997: Appointment of Agwu Okali, Registrar, following the
report prepared by the Office of Internal Oversight
Services of the UN, which “noted serious
deficiencies in the operation and management of
administrative activities of the Tribunal"

* 29 April 1997: Bernard Muna from Cameroon is appointed Deputy
Prosecutor to replace Honore Rakotomanana, who
resigned.

* 18 July 1997: Operation NaKi (Nairobi-Kigali) which enabled the
Tribunal to cause the arrest of seven suspects.

* 6 March 1998: The Prosecutor presents an indictment joining
28 persons in a single case. On March 31: confirming Judge Khan rejected the request.

* 30 April 1998: The Security Council votes to create a third trial
chamber.

* 1st May 1998: Jean Kambanda, former Prime Minister of Rwanda,
pleads guilty to Genocide, Direct and Public
Incitement to Commit Genocide, Complicity in
Genocide and Crimes against Humanity. He will be
sentenced to life imprisonment.

* 5 June 1998: Operation Kiwest (arrest operations conducted in
West Africa, which led to the arrests of five
defendants.)

* 2 September 1998: First judgement and first conviction for Genocide in
history. Jean-Paul Akayesu was sentenced to life
imprisonment.

* 4 June 1999: Navanethem Pillay is elected President of the
Tribunal.

* 3 November 1999: The Appeals Chamber dismisses the case against
Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza. The Prosecutor requests a
review of the appeal on the basis of new facts.

* 1st March 2001: Adama Dieng is appointed Registrar.

* 31 May 2001: Navanethem Pillay is re-elected President of the
Tribunal.

* June 2002: Start of the Rewards for Justice Program.

* July 2002: Adoption of Article 11 bis permitting the referral of
cases to national jurisdictions.

* 14 August 2002: The Security Council adopts Resolution 1421
setting up a panel of ad litem judges.

*
26 May 2003: Judge Erik Møse is elected President of the Tribunal.

* August 2003: Resolution 1534 of the Security Council appointing
Hassan Bubacar Jallow, Prosecutor of the ICTR. The
post of Prosecutor of the two ad hoc Tribunals is
split in two.

* 30 June 2005: The Prosecutor forwards files concerning
15 suspects to Rwanda.

* 29 May 2007: Judge Dennis Byron is elected President of the
Tribunal.

* 20 November 2007: The Trial Chamber, at the request of the Prosecutor,
transfered two cases to France (Bucyibaruta and
Munyeshyaka).

* 4 March 2008: Agreement between the Tribunal and Rwanda for
the enforcement of sentences.

* 28 May 2008: The Chamber rejected the Prosecutor’s request to
refer the Munyakazi case to Rwanda (first refusal of
an application for transfer to Rwanda).

* June and October 2008: Following joint investigations by the Office of the
Prosecutor and the Office of the Attorney General
of the Republic of Rwanda, four Rwandan
military officials, members of RPF, are prosecuted in
Rwanda for war crimes regarding the murder of 13 Clergymen (Kabgayi case). 24 October: Judgement at first instance: the two senior officers were acquitted and the two captains sentenced to 8 years.

* 16 December 2008: The Chambers rejected a request made by the Prosecutor to refer a case to Rwanda. (fifth refusal of an application for transfer to Rwanda)

* 25 February 2009: In the Kabgayi case, the Rwandan Military High Court confirmed the acquittal of the two seniors military officers. The two captains’ sentence was reduced to 5 years.

*June 2009: Prosecutor Jallow said to the Security Council that the OTP "does not have an indictment that is ready in respect of these allegations" (against the RPF).

* July 2009: The Security COuncil called the ICTR to complete all first-instance cases by the end of 2010.

* 16 November 2009: The Appeals Chamber reversed a 20-year sentence imposed on Protaïs Zigiranyirazo and acquitted him of genocide charges.

* 8 June 2010: ICTR Prosecutor hands out over 25 investigation cases to Rwanda regarding suspects which are not prosecuted by the ICTR.

* July 2010: The Security COuncil called the ICTR to complete all first-instance cases by the end of 2011.

* December 2010: Resolution 1966 of the Security Council establishing the International Residual Mechanism which will take care of the remaining task of the Tribunal after their closure. The Mechanism for the ICTR would start its operation on July 2012.

* 17 January 2011: The Trial Chambers of the ICTR decided to defer the proceedings regarding the Prosecutor’s request to transfer the cases of two fugitives (C. Sidukwabo and F. Kayishema) to the Rwandan authorities. As of May 2011, no final decision has been made regarding the referral request in Uwinkindi case. (arrested, but awaiting trial in Arusha)

* February 2011: In order to safeguard evidence, the OTP has filed motions for the taking of deposition purusant rule 71 bis of Rules of procedure and evidence in three cases involving supects at large: Félicien Kabuga, Augustin Bizimana and Protaïs Mpiranya.

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