South African advocate/barrister Dieter Achtzehn has been named director of IJM Rwanda. The Rwandan office is the fourth IJM office in Africa, joining operations in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia.

In his new position, Achtzehn will work with Rwandan authorities in the development of property law and referral partners to investigate and prosecute cases of sexual violence and illegal land seizure.

Achtzehn is a graduate of South Africa’s Rhodes University where, as a student, he led relief efforts to area townships and offered legal advice to the disadvantaged. Prior to joining IJM Rwanda, Achtzehn practiced as an advocate of the bar in Durban, South Africa, where he handled both civil and criminal cases.

The office in Rwanda brings IJM back into the field that first inspired its mission. Following his deployment to Rwanda as the lead investigator of the United Nations’ investigation into the 1994 genocide, Gary Haugen returned to the Washington, DC, area and founded IJM to advocate for victims of abuse and oppression.

“I am honored to lead the office in Rwanda, and I am eager to begin the work of providing advocacy for the local community,” said Achtzehn. “Rwanda has seen the disastrous hand of oppression and genocide, and we hope to inspire a new generation to reject the notion that ‘nothing can be done’ about injustice.”