afrol News, 9 January - The indicted Rwandan official, Rose Kabuye has returned to France today for her controversial trail, the government announced. Ms Kabuye is scheduled to appear before the French court on 10 January.

Ms Kabuye who was allowed to go home for Christmas by French judges will stand trial in connection with the alleged killing of former Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana that triggered the 1994 genocide.

The Rwandan chief of protocol was arrested in November in Frankfurt, Germany and extradited to France over an international warrant. She returned to Rwanda amid a hero's reception following protests by her supporters.

Her arrest sparked a diplomatic feud between Kigali and Germany, with president Paul Kagame's government claiming she was just being victimised. Ms Kabuye, a close aide of president Kagame, has repeatedly claimed innocence to the charges.

Information minister Louise Mushikiwabo said Ms Kabuye enjoys all the government support as an official, saying the Rwandan government is ready for an official clearance by the court.

Rwanda severed diplomatic ties with Paris in 2006 after a French anti-terrorism judge issued arrest warrants for Ms Kabuye and nine other Rwandan government officials alleged to have been complicit in the shooting down of the plane. Kigali also accused France of showing gross disrespect and disdain to African countries over the international arrest warrants.

Following the arrest of Ms Kabuye, Kigali sharply condemned both Germany and France, saying she was on official government business when detained and therefore should have enjoyed diplomatic immunity. Rwanda in retaliation expelled Germany's ambassador and recalled its envoy from Berlin.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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