Kigali, Rwanda – Rwanda’s justice system remains locked in a complex cross-border process as it awaits the possible return of Ishimwe Dieudonné, widely known as Prince Kid, the former organizer of the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant who is currently detained in the United States.
Convicted in Rwanda of rape-related offences, Prince Kid fled the country before serving his sentence, triggering a prolonged legal pursuit that now hinges on cooperation between Kigali and Washington.
Rwandan judicial authorities have confirmed that all required legal steps to secure his return have been taken.
The Prosecutor General, Angélique Habyarimana, told reporters on Monday, February 9, that Rwanda issued an international arrest warrant in October 2024 and formally requested his deportation after confirming his presence in the United States.
However, the process has been slowed by the fact that Prince Kid is also facing separate legal issues under U.S. jurisdiction.
“We issued an international arrest warrant in October 2024, and we are still waiting because he has other cases to respond to in that country,” Habyarimana said.
“What we have to understand is that when someone is being prosecuted for another offence in a different country, it may take time. We are in contact with US authorities, but he has to first face justice there. When the time is right, we will receive him as requested,” she explained.
According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Prince Kid was arrested on March 3, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, for violating U.S. immigration laws.
ICE said he had initially entered the United States legally but later breached the terms of his stay and was residing without authorization at the time of his arrest.
The agency confirmed that he remains in custody pending removal proceedings and any further legal determinations.
Rwanda’s interest in his return is rooted in a case that drew intense public attention between 2022 and 2023. Prince Kid was accused of sexually abusing young women who had participated in the Miss Rwanda beauty pageant.
In December 2022, the Nyarugenge Intermediate Court acquitted him, prompting celebrations from his supporters in court. The Prosecution Authority, dissatisfied with the ruling, filed an appeal later that month.
In October 2023, the High Council of the Judiciary overturned the acquittal and found Prince Kid guilty of rape and soliciting or engaging in sexual acts based on coercion.
He was sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rwf 2 million. The presiding judge noted that the offence ordinarily carried a 16-year sentence, but the penalty was reduced because it was his first conviction.
By the time the final judgment was delivered, Prince Kid had already left the country, and the ruling was issued in his absence.
“The positive aspect is that justice was delivered transparently,” Habyarimana said while explaining the case’s trajectory.
She added that when a person is convicted in absentia, the state continues to pursue them until the sentence is served, a principle that guided Rwanda’s engagement with U.S. authorities once his arrest was confirmed.
As matters stand, Prince Kid’s fate depends on the conclusion of U.S. proceedings and Rwandan authorities insist they remain ready to receive him once those processes are complete.
