Five of war-torn Rwanda's most wanted are believed to be hiding in Canada, and prosecutors in their own country want them back.
Extradition requests have been sent to Canada for suspects alleged to be connected to the country's 1994 genocide, in which up to a million Rwandans were killed.
The men, who are accused of masterminding the genocide, are wanted by both Rwanda and Interpol. None of the charges against them have been proven in court.
The names on the list include several former Rwandan politicians and Leon Mugesera, a well known academic who lives in Quebec City.
The Canadian Press cited Rwandan officials on Thursday, reporting that the extradition requests and arrest warrants were sent to Canada via Interpol and diplomatic channels.
In addition to Mugesera, the following suspects are on the list:
- Pierre Celestin Halindintwali
- Evariste Bicamumpaka
- Gaspard Ruhumuliza
- Vincent Ndamage
Halindintwali, Bicamumpaka, Ruhumuliza and Mugusera are all former politicians, while Ndamage is a mason accused of being a militia leader.
Jayne Stoyles, of the Canadian Centre for International Justice, told CTV's Canada AM on Friday that Canada will likely comply with the requests.
She said Canada has traditionally agreed to extradition requests when suspected criminals are found living in Canada.
There are roughly 800 war criminals and former human rights abusers currently living in Canada, Stoyles said.
"After a genocide or a conflict, people flee all over the world, including to Canada," Stoyles said.
"Many are, of course, the survivors and the victims of these situations and they're seeking refuge. But of course, a handful are also perpetrators, and the reality is that they end up living often in the same communities as the people that they have tortured or whose family members they've killed."
All of the men on the list are accused of inciting or organizing the Rwandan slaughter. Mugesera denied the accusation to The Canadian Press, but the others could not be reached.
Rwandan prosecutors claim there are hundreds of war criminals from that country hiding out in Canada, but the men on the list are the leading figures among them.
Investigators with the Canadian war crimes unit, and federal officials, have declined to comment.
Jean Bosco Mutangana, the spokesman for the Rwandan prosecution office and a special unit tracking genocide suspects, said Canada has been slow but cooperative.
"The fact that they have not arrested all of them doesn't mean there is a lack of co-operation,'' Mutangana said. "It's just because they're still waiting for further facts. Everything goes at its own pace.''
Meanwhile, the Montreal trial of Desire Munyaneza, who is alleged to have committed crimes against humanity during the genocide, resumes on Tuesday.
Canada launched its own prosecution of Munyaneza, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
With files from The Canadian Press
