Nkunda Negotiations Delayed

originally published in the New York Times, United States

Negotiations over the possible extradition of the rebel leader Laurent Nkunda from Rwanda to Congo have been delayed, according to Wilson Kairamaga, an assistant to the minister of foreign affairs for Rwanda. Mr. Kairamaga said Wednesday that Congo had asked to delay the talks until the end of the month; President Paul Kagame of Rwanda had said the talks were scheduled for this week. Mr. Kairamaga did not provide details on why the dates were changed, and Congo’s foreign minister did not return a phone call. Mr. Nkunda led a bloody battle in eastern Congo against the government, and it has accused him of war crimes. The Rwandan military captured him in January, and Rwandan officials agreed in principle to extradite him