Rwanda is appealing to European countries to try genocide cases if they cannot extradite wanted persons to face charges back home.

Following a decision by a Swedish court to sentence a Rwandan man to life in jail for genocide, Kigali said there are hundreds of pending cases or arrest warrants for people in European countries, who are suspected of taking part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Stockholm District Court in Sweden convicted Claver Berinkindi to life after he was found guilty of masterminding killings in Nkuri and Nyamiyaga communes in the former Butare Prefecture, in southern Rwanda.

Rwanda’s Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit (GFTU) has files of 1,100 wanted fugitives, out of which over 130 have indictments and arrest warrants. The majority of them are in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy and the Nordic countries.

The spokesperson of the national prosecution body Faustin Nkusi said that the sentencing in Sweden should set a precedent for other European countries, especially those that have been reluctant to arrest and try genocide suspects.

“Twenty-two years down the road, it should be made clear to genocide suspects that they cannot escape justice forever. We still have many genocide suspects in Europe roaming freely even with warrants for their arrest. With the developments in Sweden and France last week, all European countries should follow suit and try these cases if they cannot send them to Rwanda,” said Mr Nkusi.

Witnesses testified against Berinkindi, 61, and his role in commanding the Interahamwe militia and organising raids during which thousands of Tutsis were killed in southern Rwanda.

Sweden refused to extradite Berinkindi — who had acquired Swedish citizenship — to Rwanda to face trial, but the decision to sentence him has been welcomed by Rwanda as a step in the right direction.

“Justice has been served in the long-run and this should trigger many other pending cases in Europe,” said Jean Damascene Bizimana, the head of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG).

Fair trial

Over the years, European countries have refused to extradite genocide suspects back to Rwanda over fears that they might not get a fair trial. Dozens have fought extradition in the European Human Rights Court.

Only Norway has extradited a genocide suspect, Charles Bandora, who was sent to Rwanda in 2013. Several extradition requests remain pending in France and Nordic countries.

Rwanda however said if they can’t be extradited, respective countries should try them. Last week, a court in Paris began the trial of two former Rwandan mayors suspected of taking of taking part in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The trial of Octavian Ngenzi, 58, and Tito Barahira, 64, former mayors of Kabarondo in eastern Rwanda was welcomed by Rwanda.

However, Kigali said there are many other pending cases and arrests in France.

READ: Genocide trials ignite hopes of French action

There are over 25 high profile genocide fugitives including Agathe Kanziga Habyarimana, the wife of former President Juvénal Habyarimana, Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka and Sosthène Munyemana, nicknamed “the Butcher of Tumba”, among others.

In 2014, a court in France sentenced the former head of Rwandan military intelligence, Pascal Simbikangwa, to 25 years in jail on genocide charges — in a ground breaking trial.

Last year, a Norwegian appeals court upheld a 21-year sentence for Sadi Bugingo, who was found complicit in the death of 2,000 people during the genocide.