Author: Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascene

  • 12 May 1994 was a day of massacre of Tutsi at ADEPR Nyabisindu-Muhanga

    Some Tutsi had taken refuge at the church but there were also the so-called Kivuye and Nyacyonga refugees who were camping there. The latter had fled from some of the war zone communes of Byumba Prefecture, comprising Kivuye Commune, where their name came from.

    Hence, refugees at Nyabisindu became so many and some of them were living in the primary schools of the Church. ADEPR officials categorized the refugees based on their ethnicity. Pastor SAGAHUTU and another lady were sitting in front of the church, one was in charge of counting Hutu and the other in charge of Tutsi.

    Hutu refugees from Kivuye and Nyacyonga as well as other refugees from Kigali were taken to a better place and they mistreated Tutsi refugees.

    Among the Tutsi refugees, some were from various parts of Gitarama like Kibilira. Hutu refugees were involved in fetching the attackers that would kill Tutsi gradually till the last day when they massacred them all. Raping of women and girls was committed, and even young children were called to watch the transgression and some of the children were also forced to rape them.

    Before the D-date was reached, the prefect of Gitarama prefecture, Major UKURIKIYEYEZU and the sous prefect MISAGO RUTEGESHA Antoine, together with the ADEPR head Pastor, called NYANDWI Enock, ordered that the Tutsi refugees should be taken to a place called “Misizi” because they intended to kill them far away from the city. They escorted the refugees, the killers accompanied them with traditional weapons including axes, one vehicle was in front of them and the other behind them, all the way to Gitarama town. Along the journey, killers would kill some and dump them in rain drainages.

    When the refugees arrived in Gitarama town, at the market, they revolted as they refused to go to Misizi, they rather tried to flee towards Kabgayi by force and that is where some of them were killed but others managed to reach Kabgayi. They were the first refugees to be housed at the “CND” in Kabgayi. Because of awful life at CND and constant attacks that killed Tutsi gradually, some refugees decided to return to ADEPR in Nyabisindu secretly.

    Consequently, on May 12, 1994, the Interahamwe attack with painted faces, wearing dried banana leaves armed with weapons like knives, axes, machetes, and clubs with nails arrived and killed all the Tutsi. On that day, at around 2 pm, prisoners came to throw the corpses into the pits. They dragged them down and some of them were still breathing, some were asking for forgiveness, others were praying and others just crying out…

    While killing the Tutsi who had taken refuge at ADEPR, they first left women and girls so that they could rape them first. Various tools were used to torture them including bottles, sharpened sticks, and banana buds.

    Around 121 ADEPR victims are buried at Nyabisindu Genocide Memorial.

    Among the perpetrators of the massacre at ADEPR Nyabisindu were:

    -* The Prefect, Major Jean Damascene UKURIKIYEYEZU;
    -* the sous prefect MISAGO-RUTEGESHA Antoine;
    -* Pastor NSANZURWIMO Joseph, national spokesperson of ADEPR (live in Belgium);
    -* Pastor NYANDWI Enock;
    -* Pastor GATERE Simon Pierre;
    -* UPFUYISONI Marie Goretti who was a Member of Parliament and Secretary General of the UNSODC party created by ADEPR authorities (she live in Belgium);
    -* Pastor SAGAHUTU Jean who led Nyabisindu parish and lives in Zambia;
    -* Pastor MUNYEBOYI Amon also living in Zambia;
    -* Pastor KAGURANO Gerald;
    -* Pastor GAKWERERE Cyprien (they both live in Uganda);
    -* Pastor UTAZIRUBANDA Leon, who lives in Tanzania;
    -* Pastor NKUBITO Noel;
    -* NZIGIRA who was a staff of Gitarama prefecture;
    -* Andre also called Ruhurwinda;
    -* NIYIREMA Theodomire who was the Councillor;
    -* RWAJEKARE, Tito, and others.

    {{Conclusion}}

    The genocide against the Tutsi involved various categories of Rwandans including religious people. Some of them were prosecuted, others are still on trial including Pastor Jean UWINKINDI of ADEPR who was transferred by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to face Rwandan courts.

    In 2016, the leadership of the ADEPR Church apologized for the role of some of its members in the Genocide against the Tutsi, including their former spokesperson, Pastor Joseph NSANZURWIMO who fled to Belgium and continues his contempt and denial of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

    Done at Kigali on May 12, 2020

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

    In 2016, the leadership of the ADEPR Church apologized for the role of some of its members in the Genocide against the Tutsi
  • MAY 11, 1994: How French aid to the genocidal government unfolded: As presented by Gen Jean-Pierre Huchon

    {{1. General Huchon’s advice to the genocidal government}}

    According to Huchon, the following opinions should be taken into account:
    – […] The military cooperation house (French mission) was preparing the relief engagements to be carried out in Rwanda’s favour. […] It is urgent to set up an area under FAR control where landing operations can be carried out safely. The KAMEMBE runway was reserved as suitable area for operations on condition of plugging any holes at the airport and ensuring the elimination of spies circulating around the airport.

    – Do not underestimate the opposition who today has great resources and take into account his powerful allies.

    – Place the context of this war in time as it will be long. We will talk later about the use of Goma airport, controlled by the French, for arms supplies to the FAR.

    It is therefore clearly, a question of giving military means to those who are committing the genocide. And it is specified: “place the context of this war in time: the war will be long”. This means that France will resume training and arming of killers. According to France, the war “which will be long” will even continue after the genocide. It’s a continuous war.

    For this reason, a telephone was offered to the criminals: “A secure telephone allowing General Bizimungu and General Huchon to converse without being listened to (cryptophony) by a third person was routed to Kigali.

    Seventeen other telecommunication equipment with 7 frequencies each were also sent to facilitate communications between military units in the city of Kigali”.

    It should also be remembered that four days before the meeting Huchon – Rwabarinda, 435,000 francs was taken from the account of Banque de France to the benefit of the National Bank of Rwanda, for settlement of Alcatel telephone equipment sold in Rwanda by Alcatel.

    Weapon necessities were also discussed: “The following priorities were addressed:
    […] Urgent needs: – Ammunition for 105mm (battery) 105mm (at least 2,000 rounds). – Supplement the ammunition for small weapons if necessary and sending them indirectly through friend neighbouring countries. – military outfit and transmission equipment “. During the genocide, there was a serious link, between General Huchon and the army which massacred the Tutsi.

    {{2. Restoring good image of the genocidal government at international level}}

    According to Huchon, there was an urgent need to provide all possible evidence to prove the legitimacy of the war that Rwanda was engaged in so as to turn international opinion in favor of Rwanda and be able to resume bilateral cooperation. […] During his talks with Colonel Rwabarinda, General Huchon insisted on the immediate and medium-term actions expected from France. In his report, Colonel Rwabarinda confirmed:

    “General Huchon made it clear to me that the French soldiers have their hands and feet tight to make any intervention on our behalf because of the opinion of the media that only the RPF seems to be leading. If nothing is done to return the image of the country abroad, the military and political leaders of Rwanda would be held responsible for the massacres committed in Rwanda. He repeated this point several times. He concluded that the French government will not accept being accused of supporting people whom international opinion finds guilty and who do not defend themselves. The media battle is an emergency. It impacts other subsequent operations […] “.

    Rwabarinda said that General Huchon insisted on the problem of “the legitimacy of the war that Rwanda was pursuing, so as to turn international opinion in favor of Rwanda and be able to resume official bilateral cooperation”.

    The talks with Huchon took place in the middle of May, half of the genocide was already completed, a big number of Tutsi was dead. And General Huchon continued to emphasize on the need to turn international opinion in favor of the genocidal government.

    {{3. The consequences of the Huchon-Rwabarinda dialogs}}

    The Rwabarinda report confirms that military cooperation between France and Rwanda has not stopped, despite the departure of French troops and the closure of French Embassy in Rwanda. General Huchon appeared as the coordinator.

    France was organising assistance actions in favour of the FAR and the Rwandan Interim Government (GIR). Huchon proposed actions that would be attempted vis-à-vis the media: 1) provide all the evidence proving the legitimacy of the war that Rwanda was engaged in; 2) indicate that military and political leaders of Rwanda could not be accused of the massacres committed in Rwanda.

    {{4. Bernard Kouchner’s “humanitarian” mission in May}}

    Bernard Kouchner came to Kigali from 12 to 16 May to try the evacuation of orphans by UNAMIR to France. The related negotiations failed on May 16 because Interahamwe opposed the idea. Kouchner got ready to leave Kigali as soon as he gets a plane that could evacuate him.

    Bernard Kouchner traveled to Gitarama where he met the Prime Minister Jean Kambanda and President Sindikubwabo on May 15. He had come to save orphans by evacuating them to France because they would be killed any time.

    The genocidal government continued to receive military support from France, through the complicity of the French military, and through the decision of French authorities, led by President Mitterrand.

    Done at Kigali on May 11, 2020

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • MAY 9, 1994: THIS IS HOW FRENCH MILITARY COOPERATED WITH THE GENOCIDAL GOVERNMENT DURING THE GENOCIDE

    {{1. High-level interactions between FAR officers and French officers}}

    On May 9, 1994, General Huchon hosted Lieutenant Colonel Ephrem Rwabalinda, Adviser to the Commander-in-Chief of the Rwanda Defense Forces (FAR).

    General Huchon has been a dominant figure in negotiating with the Rwandan Armed Forces. He commanded the 1st RPIMa special battalion of forces in charge of intelligence services. He became the deputy of General Quesnot at the General Staff headquarter who was in charge of President Mitterrand’s special military unit, he was then appointed as the head of the Military Cooperation Mission, which dealt, among other things, with all matters of training of African forces. He occupied this post during the genocide.

    {{2. The dialogs between General Huchon and Colonel Rwabalinda}}

    In their conversation, the two senior officers discussed the following priorities:
    “- Support to the Government of Rwanda in terms of international politics; -the physical presence of French soldiers in Rwanda […] for helping hands within the framework of cooperation; -whether or not other foreign forces should be indirectly used; […] ». General Huchon committed to supply 105mm ammunition, ammunition for small arms, as well as communications equipment to facilitate the flow of secret communications between him and General Augustin Bizimungu, commander-in-chief of the FAR. These communications were intended to prepare for France direct military intervention in Rwanda.

    In the rest of his report, Rwabalinda indicated that General Huchon had undertaken to provide 105mm ammunition, ammunition for small arms, as well as communication equipment to facilitate the flow of secret communications between him and General Augustin Bizimungu, Commander-in-Chief of the FAR:

    “The secure telephone allowing General Bizimungu and General HUCHON to converse without being listened to (cryptophony) by a third person was routed to Kigali. Seventeen other telecommunications equipment with 7 frequencies each, were also sent to facilitate communications between militia units in the city of Kigali.

    They are awaiting boarding in Ostend. It is urgent to arrange an area under FAR control where landing operations can be carried out safely. The Kamembe runway has been kept appropriate for operations on condition that all holes are plugged and possible spies circulating around this airport are kept aside”.

    Rwabalinda returned to Kigali with a satellite controlled telephone to serve the FAR commandant in chief for his field trips.

    The genocidal government continued to receive military support from France, through the complicity of French military, and through the decision of the French authorities, led by President Mitterrand.

    Done at Kigali on May 9, 2020

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • MAY 07, 1994: How massacre of Tutsi student at Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci Kibeho unfolded

    {{1. Groupe scolaire Marie Merci students in Kibeho were first protected by gendarmes}}

    As the Tutsi population started to flee to Kibeho church on April 8, 1994, students of Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci started to wonder what had happened. They only got informed from April 10, 11 and 14, 1994 when Tutsi who had taken refuge at Kibeho church got killed. Since then, authorities sent gendarmes at the school to protect them. However, the Principal, Father Uwayezu Emmanuel has been meeting with teachers living outside the school including Fatikaramu Holomisidasi, Kayigamba and some Hutu students who had left the campus at night to meet the Bourgmestre Nyiridandi Charles to plot for the killing of Tutsi students.

    During the night of April 30, 1994, Hutu students started to speculate that Tutsi were about to be killed. On May 1, 1994, ten Tutsi students (9 boys and one girl) discovered the plan and decided to flee to Burundi that night. When the news broke that they had gone, gendarmes surrounded the school so that no one could escape.

    {{2. Tutsi students tried to flee to Burundi but were banned }}

    On May 2, 1994, Father Uwayezu Emmanuel held a meeting and told the students that fleeing was useless and that the Tutsi who fled at night were killed at Akavuguto River and that their bodies were being used to block roads. From then, none of the remaining Tutsi tried to flee again.

    With the aim of stirring up students’ minds and spreading hatred among the students, on May 4, Tutsi were falsely accused of poisoning porridge to kill Hutu. Hutu students organised riots and used whistles and refused to eat porridge saying that it was poisoned by Tutsi and that they were leaving the school for the latter.
    Hutu students immediately rushed to another school on the opposite side of theirs,- Collège des Lettres (currently Mère du Verbe), hence, their long time plan was fulfilled because, Tutsi were left alone at Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci, while Hutu had left.

    Father Uwayezu and some gendarmes followed Hutu students to persuade them to return to Marie Merci school because their belongings were still there. Hutu students agreed that they would return if there was no Tutsi student left at Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci. Tutsi students were taken to Ecole des Lettres, while Hutu returned to Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci. When Tutsi students arrived at the Collège des Lettres, the nun who was running the school Pierre de Vérone, refused to give them dormitories and put them in refectory where they slept on the floor without food or beddings.

    {{ 3. School authorities betrayed Tutsi students}}

    That situation could have caused Tutsi to flee and considering the information they had from outside. However, on May 4, 1994 the principal of the school, Father Uwayezu Emmanuel, the person in charge of education in Gikongoro and gendarmes used a so-called consolation meeting to comfort them but in fact it was to blindfold them so that no one would think of escaping.

    Also present at the meeting were the former Prefect of Gikongoro Prefecture, Bucyibaruta Laurent, the sous prefet of the Munini sous prefecture, Biniga Damiyani, Bishop Misago Augustin of Gikongoro Diocese, the Bourgmestre of Rwamiko Commune Silas Munyurangabo, the Bourgmestre of Mubuga commune Nyiridandi Charles, the Commander-in-Chief of Mubuga gendarmery, S/Lt Hitimana Anaclet, and other officials from the prefecture, Mubuga and Rwamiko communes.

    The prefect asked the student representative to express their problems, and explained that apart from fearing to be killed as they were always told, they were concerned by the fact that they are far from their families and they were not even sure that their relatives were still alive. The student representative added that if leaders chose for them to live they would live, and if they chose to let them die they would die.

    According to survivors from the school, Bishop Misago and Prefect Bucyibaruta told Tutsi students that the reason why Hutus chose to separate from them was that they no longer trusted Tutsi because the latter spent nights listening to Inkotanyi songs on Radio Muhabura, and that they could poison them.

    {{4. Interahamwe militias from different parts of the country killed Tutsi students }}

    On May 7, 1994, between 11 am and 12, Interahamwe from various parts of the country including Rwamiko, Mubuga, Ndago and elsewhere attacked the students with various weapons and started killing them. Those who managed escape were hunted by dogs and they discovered some of them who were seen by the students of Marie Merci while hiding.

    Interahamwe wore dried and green banana leaves while all Hutu students from the Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci wore red scarves so that anyone who might mix with them could easily be identified as a Tutsi and killed. Students themselves had weapons and used them to kill some of their classmates and tortured them. They first asked those who were about to be killed to kill each other and the one who kills others would not be killed.

    They first took off clothes of those whom they wanted to kill. They looted and hunted down fellow students who had been hiding in different places. They discovered some Tutsi who had taken refuge in the ceiling including Elias and Fidèle Castro from Ruhango. The latter was tortured to death by burying him alive and living his head outside the hole and killing him later. The victims of Ecole des Lettres were thrown into a pit behind the chapel.

    {{5. Officials who were directly or indirectly involved in the killings}}

    Father Uwayezu Emmanuel who was the Director of Groupe Scolaire Marie Merci lives in Italy and he changed his name to Emmanuel Mihigo Wayezu. The Prefect of Gikongoro Bucyibaruta Laurent, fled to France and he was initially prosecuted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and his case file was transferred to France, but he has not yet been brought to justice. There was also Biniga Damien, Munini sous prefet, Hitimana Anaclet, in charge of Gendarmery in Mubuga, Bakundukize Innocent, who was the plantation manager in Mata tea factory and Nyilidandi Charles, the Bourgmestre of Mubuga commune.

    Additionally, there were Ndabalinze Juvenal, the director of Mata tea factory, Mutazihana Nathanael, the director of Kibeho Health Center, Kayigamba Francois, the director of studies, Karekezi Fabien alias Sagazi, who was the Prefect of Discipline, Fatikaramu Holomisidasi, Geography teacher, Seraphine who was the English teacher and Kimbo who worked in the kitchen.

    {{6. Students who were involved in the killings}}

    Murindangabo Aimable, Byilingiro Theoneste alias Kofi, Harolimana Alexis alias Gifu who was the student representative (doyen), Hakizimana Jean de Dieu alias Rukokoma, Jean-Damascene Nsengiyumva, Misago Venuste, Nakabonye Alexis, Aaron Mundanikure, Michel Mutabazi and Hakizimana J. Damascene alias Gahinda.

    Uwamahoro Clement (son of Mutazihana Nathanael), Casimir Bizimungu, Butera Christophe, Esperance Nyiranziza, Joseline Byukusenge, Lucien (young brother of the Prefect of Discipline), Nsabimana Sylvestre, Balinda Janvier, Serushema Jean Bosco, Barayagamba Eduard were also involved.

    Lastly, there were Uwimana Emanuel, Gaudence Uwamahoro, Solange Uwamahoro (daughter of Rubanda), Bimenyimana J. Damascene, Niyirora Melanie, Habinshuti François Xavier, Twahirwa Gerard, Harelimana Gerede, Karerangabo Viateur, Munyarukiko François, Vuguziga Egide, Ndayambaje Eraste and others.

    {{Conclusion }}

    The massacre of Tutsi students in Kibeho occurred after a month since the extreme genocide in Kibeho took place on April 14, 1994. It shows that these students had suffered deeply as they waited for almost a month to be tortured and finally killed.

    Done at Kigali on May 7, 2020

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • MAY 06, 1994: FRENCH MILITARY SUPPORT TO THE GENOCIDAL GOVERNMENT ACCELERATED GENOCIDE AGAINST THE TUTSI

    {{1. The delegation of Rwandan military was hosted by senior French military officials for talks on provision of arms}}

    Colonel Sébastien Ntahobari, the Military attaché to the Rwandan embassy in France, Paris, was repeatedly hosted by General Jean Pierre Huchon and Colonel Dominique Delort in Paris. They discussed military assistance with General Jean Pierre Huchon who was in charge of military cooperation.

    Lt. Col. Cyprien Kayumba, who was in charge of military logistics at the Rwandan Ministry of Defense, also went to Paris twice, in late April 1994, and afterwards he continued to follow up on weapons that France had agreed to supply to Rwanda.

    All of this had ignored the fact that during the massacre of Tutsi since April 7, 1994, government forces took the lead before interahamwe to attack Tutsi who had taken refuge in schools, hospitals, churches and other government buildings. The soldiers used grenades, guns and ammunition, and later Interahamwe killed with traditional weapons including clubs and machetes.

    The French Ministry of Cooperation led by Michel Roussin, was in charge of seeking and dispensing the support to the criminal government.

    General Huchon and General Quesnot closely monitored military assistance to Rwanda, and all was based on President Mitterrand’s decision.

    Some French officials said they “did not know that the massacre of Tutsi was genocide.”

    This was a lie because the French had known since April 7, 1994 that genocide was taking place in Rwanda but they denied it. General Christian Quesnot admitted this before the French Parliamentary Commission (Parliamentary information mission). He said that “Since April 6, 1994, after Habyarimana’s death, the Rwandan problem has been closely monitored by military and political officials in France and that it was clear that the killings were not the same as the previous ones”.

    It is clear that General Quesnot was aware that the killing was genocide.

    Mitterrand, Hubert Vedrine and Alain Juppe argued that the massacre of Tutsi in Rwanda was an ethnic war, they said that members from both ethnics were killing each other. On April 28, 1994, Alain Juppe said: “War and killings continue in that country ravaged by ethnic war”.

    Constantly, President Mitterrand did not denounce the Genocide against the Tutsi, and said that in Rwanda everyone was killing everyone.

    Apart from supporting the criminal government, France continued to support Habyarimana’s family, including his wife Agathe Kanziga, who was among the organizers and implementers of genocide.

    {{2. The criminal government continued to kill and mobilize Interahamwe to accelerate the killings}}

    The Prime Minister Jean Kambanda spoke on Radio Rwanda urging the Interahamwe to accelerate the killings.

    “We have men, ammunitions, a united government, a united army, and we have to win. Everyone must be armed; it is the government’s priority to ensure there are enough weapons even if this prevents the importation of other goods”. Jean Kambanda speaking from Kibuye.

    On this date, Radio Rwanda rebroadcasted the full speech of May 3rd, 1994 by Jean Kambanda at Kibuye which requested the acceleration of genocide in the country and kibuye particularly.

    {{3. The UN Security Council has renounced its mandate to maintain peace and to assist during the Genocide.}}

    On May 6, 1994, UN non-permanent member states, Spain, New Zealand, Argentina, and the Czech Republic proposed a plan to strengthen military presence in Rwanda. However, some countries with a permanent seat in the UN Security Council rejected the idea but suggested that Rwanda’s problems should be deliberated by the African Union Organisation (OUA). The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros-Boutros Ghali, wrote to the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who was supposed to be the president of the organization.

    Mubarak wrote to the OUA Secretary General, Salim Salim, and requested that African countries should find troops to send to Rwanda. Salim Salim told President Mubarak that Africa could not cope with the kind of massacres which was in Rwanda, rather the United Nations had the power to use political force and seek necessary support for action in Rwanda. He added that whenever such problems arose, the proposed method was used to solve them.

    {{4. The ICRC criticized the behaviour of international community for abandoning Rwanda and decided to help refugees where possible.}}

    During the first week of May, ICRC personnel from Kigali, Byumba, Gisenyi, Kabgayi and Kibungo tried to take care of the injured and patients who had been threatened by Interahamwe and soldiers.

    The head of ICRC, Cornelio Sommaruga, spoke to Philippe Gaillard, who represented ICRC in Rwanda. He published an article in the International Herald Tribune denouncing media and governments that did not report on the massacre of Tutsi, saying that all countries were implicated.

    Gaillard sent an assistance to about 30,000 refugees who had fled the massacre in Gitarama, but they were, surrounded by Interahamwe who were about to kill them. Refugees were provided with basic support. The Interahamwe continued to kidnap and kill some of the refugees, as well as raping women.

    {{CONCLUSION}}

    In early May 1994 Tutsi were still killed, in regions controlled by the criminal government forces. The troops were constantly supported by the French government, and yet they knew that genocide was taking place in Rwanda. The support to the military of criminal government accelerated the genocide and prompted the killings of some Tutsi who would have survived.

    Done at Kigali on May 6, 2020

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • May 2, 1994: The Implementation of the Genocide Perpetrated against Tutsi

    {{1. Attempted assassination of Tutsi refugees at the Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali}}

    On May 2, 1994, the government of the killers planned to massacre the Tutsi who were refugees at Hôtel des Mille Collines in Kigali: during the genocide perpetrated against Tutsi, some refugees, mainly the Tutsi took refuge at the Hotel des Mille Collines where they continued to pay Paul Rusesabagina to be able to be accommodated.

    On May 2, 1994 the government of the killers wanted to massacre them but the French press, as well as the intervention of Dr. Bernard Kouchner prevented the massacre disseminating the news in France, in the same time, the civil society in France denounced this massacre, which obliged Mitterand to advise the Rwandan genocidal government not to kill these refugees.

    The journalist Vincent Hugueux of the newspaper L’Express wrote on June 2, 1994 that on May 2, 1994, person in charge of Africa at the French presidency, Bruno Delaye told General Augustin Bizimungu the Rwandan chief of staff that if they kill the refugees from the Hôtel des Mille Collines that would give a bad image at the international level, and consequently France would have difficulty continuing to assist Rwanda.

    Another newspaper Billets d’Afrique published by the NGO Survie in France, confirmed this information in its number 31 published in February 1996. Another French newspaper, Liberation, of May 25, 1994 wrote that the genocidal government had placed its agents at the Hôtel des Mille Collines to monitor refugees.

    Among the killers who frequently came to the Hôtel des Mille Collines was Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka.

    {{2. Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka massacred Tutsi at the Church of the Holy Family and its surroundings}}

    Several witnesses affirm that on various dates between April 8 and the first week of July 1994, at the Sainte-Famille parish, at Saint-Paul church and at CELA in Kigali, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA participated in meetings held to organize the massacres and kidnappings of Tutsi civilians with Colonel Tharcisse RENZAHO, Odette NYIRABAGENZI, Angeline MUKANDUTIYE, Lieutenant-Colonel Laurent MUNYAKAZI, other soldiers and Interahamwe. Subsequently, Tutsi civilians who had taken refuge in the Sainte Famille parish, the Saint Paul pastoral center and CELA in Kigali were massacred.

    {{a. Murders}}

    According to survivors of the Holy Family and Saint Paul massacres, on April 13, 1994, within the grounds of the Holy Family parish, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA, shot dead a young Tutsi. He also killed two young Tutsi, each aged 18 and 20. The same day he shot a 22 year old Tutsi girl.

    On or around June 17, 1994, at the Sainte-Famille parish in Kigali, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA incited an Interahamwe to kill a Tutsi girl named Hyacinthe RWANGWA, alias baby.

    {{b. Rape and other sexual violence repeated on Tutsi girls}}

    Victims of rape were able to testify that on April 21, 1994, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA, at the Sainte-Famille parish, encouraged an Interahamwe to rape a young Tutsi civilian refugee at the Sainte Famille parish.

    At the end of June 1994, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA, at the Sainte-Famille parish in Kigali, raped a young girl who herself testified to this rape.

    {{c. Kidnappings followed by assassinations}}

    On April 24, 1994, at the Saint-Paul Pastoral Center in Kigali, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA helped Interahamwe, including Léonard BAGABO, to kidnap seven young Tutsis, including Emmanuel RUKUNDO, journalist, Aristarque RUTSINDUKA, building and public works engineer, and MAZIMPAKA, student, knowing that these people would be killed. These people were taken to the Rugenge sector office to be killed.

    On June 14, 1994, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA, helped soldiers search and identify Tutsis who had found refuge at the Saint Paul pastoral center in Kigali while knowing that they were on the list of people to be killed.

    On this occasion, 60 Tutsi civilians, including Antoine MARIE, Zacharia GASARABWE alias Gasindi, Charles RUTSITSI, Emmanuel NYARWAYA, Diogène RUBADUKA, Twaha SEBAJURA, and André KAMEYA, who had been identified by Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA, were kidnapped by the attackers and killed.

    {{d. Justification of the genocide and Negationism}}

    On August 2, 1994, Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA signed with 28 other Rwandan priests in Goma a negationist document sent to Pope John Paul II in which they justified the genocide committed against the Tutsi and putting the responsibility for the killings on the RPF, thus innocent of the real perpetrators of the genocide. This document deeply shocked all international opinion.

    {{e. The ambiguities of French justice}}

    France has always refused to try Wenceslas Munyeshyaka. Multiple warning signs have shown for almost twenty years that France did not want to try Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA for the crimes he committed in Rwanda.

    Indeed, it was on July 25, 1995 that information was opened against MUNYESHYAKA by the investigating judge of Privas (France) for “genocide, crimes against humanity and participation in a group formed or in an agreement established in with a view to the preparation of these crimes on the basis of the principle of universal jurisdiction provided for in the New York Convention of 1984 against torture ”.

    After multiple signs of refusal to try Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA, France has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for non-respect of the fair trial, in particular the non-respect of the reasonable time. (ECHR, Yvonne Mutimura against France, judgment June 8, 2004).

    On June 21, 2007, the ICTR issued arrest warrants against Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA. Munyeshyaka’s indictment has been under seal since 2005.
    At the insistence of France, we do not know for what legitimate reason, on 20 November 2007, the ICTR relinquished the benefit of French justice of the proceedings against MUNYESHYAKA.

    Countless letters rogatory have been conducted in Rwanda to hear nearly seventy witnesses and gather evidence to support the accusation. It is incomprehensible that the Paris Prosecutor’s Office considers them unfounded when the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda had considered them serious and justifying the indictment of Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA.

    The prosecution requested that Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA not be returned to the assizes, which was confirmed by the investigating judges.

    However, overwhelming testimony from survivors of the genocide, and even testimony from the genocidaires, is unanimous to confirm that Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA himself committed or helped to commit mass killings and rapes on Tutsi refugees from the Holy Family Church and Saint Paul.

    These facts were confirmed by the Rwandan justice which found the guilt of Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA and sentenced him in absentia to life imprisonment in the same trial as the late general Laurent MUNYAKAZI.

    The position of French justice, therefore, raises many questions as to the importance it attaches to the genocide committed against the Tutsi.

    A dismissal for a person like Wenceslas MUNYESHYAKA whose role in the genocide was demonstrated during several letters rogatory can only confirm the apprehensions of survivors that France does not want to judge the brains of the genocide.

    This attitude can be explained, moreover, by knowing that the government of François Mitterrand helped and participated in the planning and execution of the genocide committed against the Tutsi between October 1, 1990 and July 1994.

    Done at Kigali on May 02, 1994

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission to fight Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • APRIL 29, 1994: The Implementation of Genocide Perpetrated against the Tutsi

    {{1. For the first time, the UN Security Council addressed the issue of the Genocide against the Tutsi}}

    From April 7,1994, the UN Security Council continued to ignore the issue of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

    On April 28, 1994, Ambassador Karel Kovanda, who represented the Czech Republic, requested the Council to discuss the matter. Ambassador Kovanda pointed out that till that date the UN Security Council had deployed 80% of its efforts to discuss the issue of maintaining or withdrawing UNAMIR troops from Rwanda, 20% to a ceasefire decision, and 0% to the analysis of the killing which was taking place in Rwanda.

    Based on information from human rights organizations, he acknowledged that the existing government was committing genocide. Some of the representative of superpower countries with a permanent seat in the UN Security Council insisted that his statement should not be used in the UN Security Council.

    The chairman of the UN Security Council, Ambassador Colin Keating, had also received reports that Rwanda was witnessing the worst massacre of Tutsi. Dr. Rony Zachariah of the MSF-Belgium handed over the report on the April 22, 1994 massacre at Butare University Hospital where Doctors, patients and their caregivers were killed.

    This was reinforced by a statement issued by the OXFAM organization declaring that genocide was taking place in Rwanda. For the first time on April 29, 1994, the UN Security Council addressed the issue of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

    The president of the World Peace Council wanted member states to assume their duty to intervene if the genocide was being committed in Rwanda, as per the provision of International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948.

    Some countries such as New Zealand, Argentina, Spain and the Check Republic were in favour that a resolution on the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda be taken. Some superpowers have opposed the use of the word genocide. The French envoy and the Rwandan representative did their best to persuade the UN Security Council that the killings were a result of the war, and that a decision to intervene was not necessary.

    After a long debate, it was decided not to use the word genocide as provided for in the International Convention against the Prevention and Punishment of the genocide crime of 1948, instead they used the following terms: “The UN Security Council reminds that killing people from one ethnic group based on the plan to exterminate them is a crime punishable by international law”.

    {{2. Tutsi massacre at Shangi catholic parish, Cyangugu}}

    Before the genocide against the Tutsi, Shangi Parish was located in Gafunzo commune, shangi Sector and it is currently in Nyamasheke district, Shangi Sector. Discrimination and persecution of Tutsi in Gafunzo was in place for long time but since the 1990 liberation struggle started, it became intense. During that time, MRND and MDR joined their efforts to persecute Tutsi.

    During 1992, educated Tutsi who occupied various posts in public institutions in Gafunzo commune were fired from their jobs and those who were working in education were also fired. In addition, any Hutu who had married a Tutsi woman were requested to divorce them. A councillor called BACAMURWANGO Anicet led by example and sent away his wife because she was a Tutsi. However, some of the families did not implement the decision.

    In 1993, interahamwe started to be trained across the country and those from Gafunzo were trained in Shagasha Tea factory. The former director of the factory NSABIMANA Callixte from Gisenyi always said that he did not like Tutsi. He is the one who played a key role in training Interahamwe within the factory in collaboration with the prefect BAGAMBIKI Emmanuel, sous prefet Gerard TEREBURA, Sous prefet Theodore MUNYANGABE and Lieutenant Samuel IMANISHIMWE.

    From april 8, 1994 interahamwe started to yell and sing “Tubatsembatsembe” loudly above the hills slightly translated as: “Let’s exterminate them”. At that time, Tutsi started to flee to Shangi parish. Among the interahamwe who shouted “Tubatsembatsembe” included Hutu from the clan called “Abanyumu” and roadblocks were established everywhere. The first roadblock was established at Teacher Bonaventure’s home who lived near Shangi Parish.

    From April 12 to 13, 1994, interahamwe and local Hutu started to attack Tutsi who had taken refuge at the parish to loot and kill but Tutsi tried to defend themselves and defeated them.

    On April 14, 1994, a third major attack led by Interahamwe called PIMA attacked Tutsi. Before killing Tutsi at Shangi parish, interahamwe passed by Gafunzo commune to take guns and grenades to use. Bourgoumestre KARORERO Charles instructed brigadier of the commune to give weapons to interahamwe. Interahamwe used the above mentioned weapons to kill Tutsi but some of them survived. The PIMA attack had come from Nyamirundi.

    Interahamwe locked all water pipes first so that Tutsi refugees at Shangi Parish may starve. Those who tried to go and fetch water from Lake Kivu below the parish were immediately killed before they reach the place.

    On April 18, 1994, the delegation from the prefecture led by sous prefet MUNYENGABE Theodore held a meeting with all councillors and requested the latter to write down a list of all Tutsi who fled their homes and where they had taken refuge.

    During next days, Father MATEGEKO Aime, sous prefet MUNYANGABE and commune staff would come every day and take strong men and boys as well as educated ones and kill them. They lied to Tutsi that those who were called are the ones who illegally had weapons like guns, grenades and other weapons to kill Hutu and that they have to go to Kamembe court to provide explanations about it. Among all those who were taken, none of them had returned.

    On April 27, 1994 around 10am, another attack of interahamwe from Shangi and Nyabitekeri came to the Parish but was defeated and sent back. On April 29, 1994 a major attack led by Yussuf Munyakazi from Bugarama carrying machetes, clubs, guns and grenades came in three trucks full. The survivors of the attack said that Interahamwe were singing: “isi n’ibiyirimo byose ni iby’abahutu” meaning: “the world and everything in it belongs to the Hutu” and they started to throw grenades and using machetes. On that day, they stopped killing around 19h30 and took the surviving girls with them to rape them.

    On April 30, 1994 Interahamwe came to kill those who were wounded and then brought all the people who were going to the market and told them to pick up bodies from the church and take them to a pit called Red Cross (a hole used to unfill toilets of Shangi Primary School) and dumped all bodies. When the pit became full, they excavated other ones and threw all bodies in order to clean up the church.
    Father MATEGEKO Aime, a prominent killer at Shangi was convicted of genocide crime and sentenced for life imprisonment.

    {{3. Tutsi massacre at Kamarampaka Stadium, Rusizi}}

    Kamarampaka Stadium was located nearby Rusizi court, Military base, the Gendarmery, Cyangugu prefecture headquarter, Cyangugu prison, Cyangugu Diocese and Kamembe business center. It was also close to the DRC border. This was the reason for many Tutsi to take refuge at the stadium because they thought they will be safe near administrative buildings. First Tutsi fled to the stadium on April 9, 1994 with their cattle as Hutu had started burning their houses.

    On April 19, 1994 a military attack led by prefect BAGAMBIKI Emmanuel of Cyangugu arrived. They had a list of Tutsi men whom they wanted to kill first including the educated and those who appeared rich. Others were strong men who would be able to defend themselves.

    Father Laurent NTIMUGURA mocked them when they told him to appeal for them and he told them that they are not the ones who should be depressed as Hutu had lost their so-called parent (the president) they are the ones who should complain not Tutsi. However, his colleague Father Oscar NKUNDAYEZU comforted them and brought them food and gave repentance sacrement to those who wanted it. Father Laurent NTIMUGURA was sentenced to 20 years in prison and completed it, he is currently living with the Bishop of Cyangugu.

    Tutsi who had taken refuge at Kamarampaka Stadium lived a miserable life as there was no water, no food, no toilets and they were facing dysentery epidemic due to dirtiness and many were very sick.

    On April 26, 1994 another military attack came and was led by Lt. IMANISHIMWE, they took men to be killed as usual. Prefect BAGAMBIKI decided that Tutsi refugees who were at the stadium would not be given chances to flee to Zaïre and then sent them to Nyarushishi, far from the border so that none would flee to Zaïre.

    On April 28, 1994, another military attack took other men to be killed. Refugees held a meeting and agreed to flee to Zaïre. Around 3 am in the morning, they took the road to Zaïre but soldiers who watched them did not allow them, Bagambiki and soldiers had waited for them on the way and ordered them to go back at the stadium. On their way back, interahamwe and soldiers started to kill them with guns, machetes, clubs and grenades. Those who survived were taken to Nyarushishi.

    IMANISHIMWE Samuel was convicted of genocide crime by the ICTR and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

  • APRIL 21, 1994: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENOCIDE PERPETRATED AGAINST TUTSI THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

    {{1.UN Security Council amended UNAMIR mandate and withdrew some of its troops from Rwanda }}

    On April 21, 1994, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution of 912 amending the UNAMIR mandate and leaving it with only 250 troops. However, General Dallaire who led UNAMIR sent a daily report to the United Nations on the killings of Tutsis in Rwanda. He claimed that the Habyarimana guards and the Interahamwe militia had become like a “virus” which was spreading quickly. The UN, which did not value the information from Dallaire, decided to abandon Rwanda and the killings continued on daylight.

    {{2.Tutsis killed in Murambi, Gikongoro, Nyamagabe}}

    When the genocide started around Murambi area, local Tutsis and those from Mudasomwa, Kinyamakara, Musebeya, Muko and other communes started to seek refuge at Murambi.

    Those who fled to Murambi were told by their authorities that they would be able to keep their security while they are together but it was a lie because the former president of criminal government SINDIKUBWABO Theodore together with his Prime minister Jean KAMBANDA had visited Gikongoro and instructed people to start genocide.

    It was after the meeting that the authorities encouraged the Tutsis to flee to Murambi, lying to them that they would be kept safe. Those who had fled to various communal and church offices and those who had been hidden by the Hutus were taken to Murambi by car or brought by others.

    Everywhere they passed on the way to Murambi, they were stoned by the Interahamwe. When they arrived in Murambi, Interahamwe started to cut off all water pipes supplying Murambi so that they get weakened by thirsty before they can be killed.
    They decided to slaughter their cows after realizing that they were starving to death. Gendarmes told them to count themselves so that they can request for sustenance and later on were given some rice but it wasn’t sufficient due to their big number of up to fifty thousand (50,000).

    In the following days, Interahamwe would attack them and they fought back with stones and Interahamwe would go back. In the dawn of April 20 towards 21, 1994 around 3 am gendarmes started firing grenades and shooting on Tutsi refugees. Interahamwe, CDR supporters and civilians carrying clubs, machetes, spears and axes started to finish off those who were not killed with gunshots and the wounded.

    Those who participated in the killing of more than 50,000 who had taken refuge at Murambi were the former Prefect of Gikongoro Prefecture BUCYIBARUTA Laurent (lives in France), SEMAKWAVU Felicien, the former Bourgmestre of Nyamagabe Commune, Captain Faustin SEBUHURA who led Gikongoro Gendarmery, Colonel SIMBA Aloys, Justin AYURUGARI, who was in charge of Electrogaz Gikongoro, Venuste NYOMBAYIRE (in charge of SOS Gikongoro Children’s Center), David KARANGWA the registrar in Gikongoro Court, Celse SEMIGABO the prosecutor in Gikongoro, Alphonse NSENGUMUKIZA (worked in Electrogaz), gendarms and interahamwe including MUNYANGOGA, Musekura Aloys, Ngirumpatse Venuste and others.

    Murambi was also the campsite of French military in the “Zone Turquoise” where they claimed to have come to protect the Tutsis who were being killed but that did not happen because a few Tutsis who had survived went to Murambi but were kidnapped and killed by the Interahamwe and the French soldiers did nothing about it.

    Some French soldiers raped Tutsi girls and women and committed various other crimes, according to a report by “Mucyo commission”. At the end of their mission, they asked people who were in Murambi camp to cross over to Congo and assured them that they would help them return to Rwanda. Interahamwe escorted them to Congo with many other refugees because they were told that Inkotanyi would kill them but the purpose was to help killers take them as hostages for when they would arrive in the Congolese jungles. Murambi genocide memorial is a home for more than 50,000 Tutsi genocide victims who were killed there and those exhumed from Gasaka memorial.

    {{3.Tutsi massacre in Cyanika Catholic parish, Nyamagabe}}

    This Parish has a special history for the Tutsi because in 1963 there was a massacre of Tutsis who lived there and it was reported in the international reports and in the media that it was genocide. All Rwandans called it a bloodbath.

    From 1990-1994 the Tutsis who lived in Cyanika were again persecuted under the leadership of Bourgmestre of Karama Commune Desire NGEZAHAYO. They were called Inkotanyi accomplices as it happened in 1963 by calling them accomplices of the cockroaches (Inyenzi) and imprisoning others.

    Refugees from Karama, Kinyamakara, Nyamagabe, Rukondo, Karambo and other communes were gathered at the Parish and were welcomed by Father Joseph NIYOMUGABO and many arrived on April 8,1994.

    The reason many fled was that Bourgmestre NGEZAHAYO and the councillors toured the entire commune and demanded that those hiding to come at the parish using loudspeakers pretending to protect them at the parish.

    On April 11,1994, the sous prefect of Karaba sous prefecture Yozefu NTEGEYINTWARI held a meeting with the Bourgmestre of Rukondo, Karama and Kinyamakara communes at Cyanika football ground (Murizo) to polish their plan to kill Tutsis.

    In addition, there was also a terrorist group called MINUAR commanded by NTAGANIRA Emmanuel also called Muturage and Rubera who received arms from Col. Simba and handed them over to people. The group was in charge of killing Tutsis and to reinforce where the killing was slow because they were using grenades especially interahamwe called Kazungu.

    In the night of April 20 to 21 Tutsis who had taken refuge in Murambi were killed and the killers headed to Cyanika on April 21, 1994 at around 10 am and started to kill refugees who had taken refuge at the parish where they used grenades and traditional weapons. More than 35,000 Tutsis were killed and they are buried in Cyanika Genocide memorial.

    Those who participated in the planning and killing of Tutsis who had taken refuge at Cyanika Catholic Parish were led by the former prefect of Gikongoro Laurent BUCYIBARUTA, Col SIMBA Aloys, sous prefet Yozefu NTEGEYINTWARI, Bourgmestre NGEZAHAYO Desire, MP Marc HANYURWIMFURA, MUNYANDINDA Joel inspector of primary school of Rukondo commune, NKURIKIYIMANA Jean Bosco director of Cyanika health Centre, Charles UGIRINDEGE (Deputy Bourgmestre of Rukondo), his brother in-law SEBAKIGA Jean Bosco also called Kinigamazi (veterinary of Karama commune), MUNYANEZA Jean Bosco, MPAKANIYE Frodouard former mobiliser of Karama commune, Jean Baptiste KAYIGAMBA who worked at the Cyanika Health Center, GAHAMANYI Callixte – a businessman, councillors including MUNYANKINDI Callixte, BASHIMUBWABO Jean Baptiste, MURINDABABISHA – the Director of GS Cyanika, HISHAMUNDA Charles youth mobiliser in Gikongoro, GATARI Jean Damascene (Agronomist), GASHARA Alphonse – a teacher in Mbazi, NZUNGIZE Azaria – a secretary in Karaba sous prefecture, KAREKEZI Kizito a student at the University and a player of Mukura, MAGEZA Onesphore – Rukondo police officer, MUDENGE Juvenal (reservist), Police officers: HABIMANA and MUNYANEZA Sipiriyane and some cell and sector leaders of Cyanika, Kibingo, Gitega, Ngoma, Muganza, Kiraro, Kiyumba and Nyanzoga.

    Interahamwe who took part in killing Tutsis of Cyanika were : DEMOKARASI Joseph a.k.a Rubera, ULINZWENIMANA Etienne a.k.a Kazungu, NTAGANIRA Emmanuel a.k.a Muturage, NKURIZA Anastase a.k.a Serufirira, KABERA Vianney and his elder brother GASURIRA, NIZEYIMANA Athanase a.k.a Musebeya, MUSONI Anselme, MUGAMBIRA Apollinaire, BIZIMANA a.k.a Munyu, KARAMIRA Maurice, KAYIHURA Joseph, MUGENGA Joseph, MUBIRIGI Zakariya, RWAMAKUZA Cyriaque, RUDAHANWA Telesifore, BUKEYE Alfonsi, MUTAJUGIRE Francois a.k.a Rupajyama, MIYERI, NAMBAJE Alfonsi, Aloyizi SEKAGANDA son of Ntwarabashi, RUTEBUKA Martin, RWAGASANA Venant, BIZIMANA a.k.a Nderema, MUHAYA son of Mishogoro, Dominiko son of Busizori, RUKARA Mariko, SENYANA son of Butuyu and others.

    {{4.Tutsis killed at Catholic Church Parish Kaduha, Nyamagabe}}

    Kaduha Parish is located in the former Karambo commune, Kaduha sous prefecture Gikongoro prefecture. Tutsis who had taken refuge there came from Muko, Musange, Karambo and Musebeya communes. They started to arrive on April 8, 1994. On April 17, 1994 a gendarm took away their traditional weapons saying that they are already protected

    Before that date, refugees were sharing what they had brought from their homes and a German Sister MILGHITA who led the Health Center prepared porridge for children. The priests had sufficient rice but starved refugees because there was a Burundian priest Nyandwi Athanase Robert, who was one of the organizers of the killing plot.

    On April 20, 1994 the priest asked them to buy the rice at 5 Rwandan francs per kilo and he knew they were going to kill them shortly. They used the money they had to buy the rice and finished it all.

    On April 21,1994 an extensive attack of gendarmes, reservists, and interahamwe with various weapons from the communes of Muko, Karambo, Musange, Musebeya took place. They first surrounded refugees and then killed around 45,000 Tutsis at Kaduha parish. Only a few of them survived.

    The killings were motivated and led by intellectuals including Father Nyandwi Robert, Sous prefet Joachim Hategekimana, PDAG project staff called Katasi famous for his assassination in Kaduha. Ngezahayo Straton a former soldier, Karangwa François a court staff, a soldier named Gerivasi, Kayihura, Albert Bourgmestre of Muko commune, Interahamwe called Rukokoma, Ntawera, Matabaro, along with other Interahamwe as well as students from Ruhengeri who had taken refuge there.
    All of them were led by gendarmes from Gikongoro on April 8/4/1994 under the command of Colonel SIMBA Aloys who was in charge of the so-called civil defence in Gikongoro and Butare.

    Currently, the death toll at the Kaduha Genocide Memorial has risen to 47,311. Survivors in the area continued to be killed as Kaduha was in a French-controlled area called “Zone Turquoise” and that prevented the RPF-Inkotanyi from saving them in due time.

    {{5.Tutsis killed at various places in Ntongwe Commune, Ruhango}}

    {{a.Ntongwe mountains }}

    From April 18 to 20, 1994 some Tutsis who went to the mountains and tried to defend themselves. Some of the mountains included Nyiranduga where a large gathering of Tutsis from Gisali, Kibanda, Mbuye, Mukinga (in the former Mugina Commune), where they spent four (4) days fighting the attacks and defeated them. Afterwards, the former Bourgmestre of Ntongwe commune Kagabo Charles and the sous prefet of Ruhango sous prefecture called Placide Koroni and the gendarms, told Tutsis to go to the Commune for easy protection but it was a plan to kill them at once.

    Another hill from which Tutsis tried to resist against Interahamwe attacks was the Gacuriro ya Nyakabungo hill, but they were removed by Bourgmestre Kagabo lied to them that they will be protected at the commune and that they should go there. It was on April 19,1994.

    Ntungamo ya Kayenzi in Nyabitare is also another mountain on which Tutsis tried to fight back interahamwe. They used spear, bows and especially stones and other Interahamwe attacks from Nyakabungo and Ntongwe sector came and spread Tutsis where some continued to Tambwe and Ruhango and others were killed slowly.

    {{b.Killing of Tutsi at the former Ntongwe commune office }}

    Tutsis started to flee to Ntongwe commune office from April 10,1994 because Hutus had started to burn their houses, to kill them and slaughter their cows. At some hills Tutsis started to defend themselves but the former Bourgmestre Kagabo Charles and the sous prefet Placide Koroni through sectoral councillors sent them to the Commune lying to them that their security will be ensured there. The last Tutsis who arrived at the Commune on April 19 and 20, 1994 even those who were hiding elsewhere joined.

    From April 17 to 19, 1994 the Tutsis who had taken refuge in the Commune first defended themselves to their best with stones and repelled the attacks until April 20, 1994. The more authorities gathered Tutsis at Ntongwe commune, the more they also gathered killers: interahamwe from Bugesera, Burundians from Nyagahama camp, people and gendarms from Nyanza.

    They all gathered at Ntongwe Commune on the night of April 20, 1994 to April 21, 1994 and attacked the Tutsis and destroyed them. The attack was planned at a meeting held in Mutima between April 17 and 19, 1994 led by gendarmes including Bourgmestre Kagabo and Burundian refugees.

    They crossed Gako instead of Nyakabungo so that the Tutsis could not hear the noise of the car and flee, when they reached Mutima, they stopped their cars and walked by foot under Kagabo’s command.

    On the night of April 20 to 21, 1994, all the attacks met at the commune. Soldiers and police officers shot in the cloud, threw grenades and those who tried to escape were waited by killers with machetes and other traditional weapons the killing was very systematic and well planned.

    {{c.The massacre of Tutsis in the valley of Nyamakumba}}

    The killings took place on 21/04/1994. Nyamukumba is at 2 km from the Ntongwe Commune office on the way to Ruhango. It is a place where there is a huge valley. The place was named “the apocalypse of Tutsis” due to a huge number of Tutsis who got killed there after escaping from grenades, bullets and machetes from the attack at the commune.

    Cruelly, the soldiers installed guns on the hills around Nyamukumba, so that wherever you flee to they will be watching you because it is a big valley surrounded by hills, those who were not killed at the Commune were turned into that valley and other escape ways were all closed.

    The Interahamwe dominated by Burundians at the shops of kinazi, at Nyagahama there was also other Burundians, Interahamwe from Bugesera, soldiers and gendarmes fired at them and turned them into Nyamukumba valley. When they all arrived at Nyamukumba, those in the mountains who were ready to shoot them, fired at once, then Interahamwe with machetes, clubs and spears finished off the survivors of gunshots. There was a lot of crying and a lot of people died. The place was given the name of “Imperuka ya Nyamukumba” slightly translated as “apocalypse of Nyamukumba”.

    {{d.Massacre of Tutsi at CND in Rutabo}}

    The so-called CND pit was excavated in 1992 and was located behind the Primary School of Rutabo A. Many Tutsis were killed and dumped in the pit even those killed elsewhere were brought at the pit. The place was named after the CND of Kigali where the RPF forces who came to protect the RPF leaders lived. In other words, to take the Tutsis there to kill them was to meet their so-called relatives in CND Kigali.

    The attack on that pit was led by NSABIMANA Jacques who led CDR in Ntongwe known as Pilate because any one who was going to be killed on that CND pit was first tortured by him.

    Some of the most prominent names in the massacre were Kagabo Charles who was the Bourgmestre of Ntongwe Commune, Placide Koroni who was the sous prefet of Ruhango sous prefecture, Councillors who governed all 13 sectors of Ntongwe Commune, Soldiers like Hitabatuma, Rucyeragabiro of Nyabusinzu at Kamugunga, Visenti from Birara Vianney also from Nyabusinzu, … a citizen named Ntintanguranwa who burned a baby on the charcoal stove at Gishari of Kareba, Kareba Councilor Kanyandekwe Zefaniya and Kageruka Aristarque, Teacher Nsabimana Jacques (nicknamed Pilate), a businessman called Simoni Munyentama and his elder brother from Kareba, Nahayo Florent, unknown Burundians who lived in Nyagahama camp; these grilled and ate hearts of killed Tutsis.

    {{6.Massacre of Tutsis at Karama catholic church, Runyinya, Huye}}

    On April 08, 1994, Tutsi refugees started arriving in Karama. They came from Ramba and Gikongoro prefecture to Karama parish. Once they arrived, they were exhausted, hungry, traumatised and some of them seriously injured.

    On April 10, 1994, HATEGEKIMANA Deogratias, the former Bourgmestre, invited all Hutu concillors, all Hutu dignitaries, including the Director of the APAREC Secondary School and Businessmen, to the Genocide Preparation meeting. No Tutsi was allowed to attend it because by the time the meeting was held, two roadblocks were established, one at the commune courtyard, and the other at the center where they were controlled by police. SERUTWA Damien who led Umuyange cell was denied entry because he was a Tutsi.

    On April 11, 1994, Bourgmestre Hategekimana Deogratias took a policeman named GATITIBA Thomas on a commune motorcycle to Ramba and ordered Tutsi refugees to go to Karama. Many refugees arrived that day, including many wounded. Father Ngomirakiza Francois took the critically injured to the University Hospital in Butare and at the same time he was seeking help to assist a large number of refugees in Karama.

    From April 14 to 16, 1994 Tutsi houses were set on fire in all the areas around Karama and started on the same day: Nyarusange-Mukongoro-Kibingo-Buhoro-Bunazi-Uwarugondo … all refugees gathered at Karama church, in classes, at the market had come from Gikongoro and Butare Communes: Runyinya, Rwamiko, Mubuga, Kinyamakara, Huye (Muyogoro), Maraba, Mudasomwa, Nyakizu (Rusenge), Kivu. They were all counted and classified according to their Sector.

    On April 16, 1994, the first Tutsi in Karama, was called Myandagara was killed at a bar in Kibingo. On April 18, 1994 the Bourgmestre and the police took a treasurer of a cooperative called KOPIARU to show them the keys to the coffre fort and immediately killed him.

    The killers cut a water pipe and poured pesticides into the Agatenga River to kill the refugees with thirsty. Bourgmestre Hategekimana Deo brought gendarmes who were born in Karama including Twagirumukiza Charles they brought bullets and guns and Bourgmestre slaughtered a cow for them and lied to Tutsis that gendarms had come to protect them.

    On April 20, 1994, the gendarmes led by RWASAMANZI and KIMASA, who worked in APAREC project went to Bunazi to kill Tutsis who had taken refuge there with grenades. Survivors came and joined others in Karama. That night Father Ngomirakiza told refugees that there was no refuge at the parish, and those who tried to flee were returned at Rugondo’s roadblock while stoning them.

    On April 21, 1994, a large number of Hutus carrying clubs and machetes entered the refugee camp. Around 9 am, many attacks of interahamwe wearing dried banana leaves and surrounded the camp and killed them. They then took the children who had survived the massacre and put them together, cooked porridge for them but they had poured poison (acid) in the porridge and then gave them to them and all kids died. Bodies of about 70,000 Tutsis are buried at the Karama Genocide Memorial.

    {{7.Tutsis massacred at Gashinge hill, Kamonyi}}

    Gashinge is a hill located in Gasharu Village, Nyamirembe Cell, Karama Sector, Kamonyi District but in the past it was located in Kayenzi Commune which was governed by MBARUBUKEYE John.

    On April 19, 1994, Tutsis fled to the Gashinge hill from Nyabikenke, Rutobwe, Musasa, Taba communes and elsewhere. They were attacked on April 19, 1994, by Hutus from their communes. The Tutsis defended themselves using stones and defeated them, and the attackers decided to cut down banana plantations and the forest in that area.

    On April 21, 1994, a major attack took place comprising of soldiers, police, and civilians, led by Buyumbu, who also led the Bibare attacks. In order to exterminate Tutsi, they first used grenades, guns and interahamwe used other weapons including machetes, small hoe, sharp sticks, axes, spears and more. The killings started in the early morning and finished in the afternoon. Survivors and others who were taken from their homes were taken to Nyabarongo and others were gathered and taken to Nyamirembe sector ground called CND.

    {{8.Tutsis massacred in Cyakabiri, Rutobwe, Gitarama, Muhanga}}

    Cyakabiri is located in Kigarama cell, Cyeza sector, Muhanga district. This is a well-known place in the area due to the heavy roadblock at which about a hundred Tutsis were killed. This was because Cyakabiri connected Kayumbu and Cyeza and hence they had to kill Tutsis who fled to Kabgayi from Rutobwe, Nyabikenke, Kayenzi and Rukoma.

    The roadblock was set up on April 14, 1994, as the massacre in Rutobwe started on April 13, but most people were killed at the roadblock on April 21,1994 even though before and after Tutsis continued to be killed there until RPF stopped killing in the area.

    Those killed were thrown in the nearby pit called CND after being killed brutally, tortured with traditional weapons wooden clubs with nails called “Nta mpongano y’umwanzi”, sickles, sharp sticks, machetes and others. Generally, Tutsis in that area were heartlessly killed by cutting off their body parts like ears, heels, slowly and they return to kill them gradually. Another specialty in the area is that Tutsis were poisoned, the killers took a traditional pesticide diluted it in bottles and made tutsi drink it saying that they should drink milk as they love it!

    The perpetrators of the massacre included the former Minister of Youth and Associations NZABONIMANA Callixte who was at the forefront of the Rutobwe massacre. He was using his “Kombe” car on which he mounted speakers and mobilised people while going to his home in Nyakabanda commune, urging the Hutus that their enemy is a Tutsi. NZABONIMANA also brought many machetes in the car, which he distributed to citizens on the road.

    In addition, he also had grenades which he gave to few people who knew how to use them. There were others like SEROMBA Barthazar who was the MDR secretary in the Commune, MUVUZAMPAMA – MDR vice president, MPARABANYI, AYIDINI, DUSABE, KAMPAYANA, HARINDIKIJE and others.

    After the genocide, the bodies were exhumed from Cyakabiri pit and buried in the Kayumbu memorial which include 428 bodies from Rutobwe. The memorial is built in Kayumbu sector in Kamonyi District.

    {{9.Tutsis killed in Tumba Sector (Mpare and Musange), Huye}}

    Mpare is currently located in Tumba Sector of the former Huye Commune. As the genocide commenced in the area, all people had joined efforts and went to Muyogoro to avert the killers from Nyaruguru. On April 20, 1994, Bourgmestre Ruremesha Jonathan who governed Huye commune, born in Mpare, held a meeting for Hutu people only after expelling the Tutsis.

    On April 21, 1994, all the Hutus set fire to Tutsis homes, and immediately started killing, looting and destroying their houses. Soldiers, gendarmes and civilians joined in the massacre of Tutsis. Soldiers and gendarmes went to the top of the hill (Nganzagihendo) and shoot at the Tutsis who were gathered. The Tutsis killed were from Musange, Mpare, Vumbi, Gishamvu, and Nyaruguru. More than 11,000 were killed.

    At the forefront of planning and implementing the Genocide are Bourgmestre RUREMESHA Jonathan and MP BANYANGIRIKI Zacharie (born in Mpare). He held a meeting in Kabuga to urge Hutus to kill Tutsis, where he openly said: “The enemy we are fighting is a Tutsi wherever he is”.

    The killers involved were HARINDINTWARI Theogene who went to Butare town to fetch the fuel to burn Tutsis homes. He got it from Ntahobari Maurice. BUYENGE Charles who was the Concillors of Musange sector, Nzabahimana Vianney who was the Concillors of Mpare Sector, Hangimana Chrisostome who fled to Zambia, Bungurubwenge Augustin escaped from prison and fled to South Africa, Mondi Mazuru was a driver in the DGB project who fled to Malawi and others.

    {{10.Tutsis massacred at Gishubi, Gisagara}}

    The Gishubi Sector during the Genocide was led by Councilor Ugirashebuja Francois who also led the killings in collaboration with his colleague Ndayishimiye Augustin, the Councilor of Nyaranzi Sector sharing borders. Genocide Preparatory Meetings were held in Gabiro at the home of Innocent Mukurarinda, the accountant of Kibayi commune.

    Renowned for killing Tutsis are:

    – Ugirashebuja Francois, the councillor of Gishubi Sector, Mukurarinda Innocent who fled to Uganda, Police Officer Ubarijoro Gaspard who shot many Tutsis, Nkurikiyinka Viateur who was nicknamed MDR, Ntahobavukira Jerome, Matene of Rubayi, Yoboka Anasthase, Munyagandwi Anasthase, Ndekezi Augustin, Nyandwi Francois, Rwamakuba, Bugirimfura Visenti, Semicaca, Kabandana Jean Bosco, Nyirishema Saveri, Ugaragaye Emmanuel, Shyirambere Francois nicknamed Nyabarongo, Mwumvaneza Alexandre – a teacher, Ngwenyerezi Vianey, Rukundo son of Njogori, Niyongira Bonaventure a police officer, Mbanzwirikeba Cassien who was a soldier, Ruzindana son of Nzirumbanje who fled to South Africa, Rugira Emmanuel sentenced to life imprisonment but escaped from the prison and fled to Europe, Havugimana Anatole a student at the university but he died, Rutebuka Alexandre mobiliser at Muganza commune, Munyagandwi Venuste who pleaded guilty and his sentence was reduced, he also provided extra information on the Genocide, Burundians from the family of Mushatsi who shot many Tutsis using bows. Among them, there were Karuhije, Macumi, Sekimonyo, Muhitira, Ndururutse and they returned to Burundi.

    On April 20, 1994, they spent the whole night burning down Tutsi houses and started killing them on April 21, 1994. The Tutsis killed in Gishubi were local residents and others from elsewhere including from Ndora, Musha, Gikongoro … they were killed in huge numbers on Thursday April 21, 1994 and they were finished off on Friday April 22, 1994. After that they continued to kill the Tutsis in Musha on Saturday April 23, 1994 and then continued in Kabuye. More than 2,000 Tutsis were killed in and around Gishubi Sector.

    At each road junction, roadblocks were set up: at the Sector office, there were two at the center in Gabiro, at Busave, at Gafita, at Gatare, at Muswa, at Zanwe on the road to Kigozi, at Mbonwa and at Bitare.

    Gishubi is exceptional because no Tutsi survived there. A local Tutsis whom they could not find among the corpses, they went to hunt him down in other Sectors bordering Gishubi until they find and kill him and returned. The one who survived is the one who managed to get out of the sector and flee elsewhere.
    11. Tutsis massacred in Musha, Mugusa commune, Gisagara

    The genocide planning meetings were held at the IGA building, chaired by MRND President Muramba Augustin. It was attended by Kanyabikari Telesphore, Ngango Viateur, Mukasangwa Alice, Sekamana Jean Marie Vianney, Muzigirwa Francois, Muhozi Bernard and others.

    The massacre of many Tutsis took place at Musha Business Center, at Cyayi Sector, Murama and Musha Health Center.

    At the forefront of the killings were Kabayiza, the Bourgmestre of Mugusa Commune, Ngango Viateur, the Councilor of Musha Sector, Muramba Augustin, the inspector of primary schools, Kanyabikari Telesphore, the Director of primary school. There were also police officers including Gasasira, Panueri and Emmanuel Nsanzimana. There was also Sibomana Ignace who led the attacks and Habyarimana Stanislas who controlled the roadblocks at the Musha center.

    {{12.Massacre of Tutsis at various places in Butare Town, Huye}}

    On April 19, 1994, Theodore Sindikubwabo, who was the President of the so called “Abatabazi” Government convened a meeting in the conference hall of Butare Prefecture. All prefecture authorities of different administrative levels were invited and given instructions to start conducting Genocide. They were instructed to kill all Tutsis and that any person who opposes or tries to save Tutsis would be killed as well.

    The meeting started with an announcement to remove Dr. Jean Baptiste Habyarimana, who was a Tutsi, from the leadership of Butare Prefecture, and was replaced by Nsabimana Sylvain. On 20th April 1994, the new prefet immediately called a meeting of all district mayors and laid out the genocide plan. The same say all sector leaders had meetings with cell leaders on the same agenda. In all these meetings no Tutsi was allowed to attend, even if he would be part of the leadership.

    In Butare town many Tutsis were killed at the Prefecture headquarters, at the Butare hospital (Currently CHUB, the University Hospital of Butare), at the military school (ESSO), in Arboretum forest, within the Rwanda National University, in SORWAL (the match boxes factory), in EAV Kabutare, in Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, in the forest around Caraès Butare, in the museum forest, at Ngoma catholic parish, at Matyazo health center, at Cyarwa; a place called Gateme and on different roadblocks that were set up at Faucon, at the University, at Mukoni, in front of residences of Ntahobari Maurice and Nyiramasuhuko Paulina, in front of Bihira Juvenal building, at the upper side of the National Museum, in Rwabuye, etc.

    Tutsis who had fled at the Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare started getting killed on 21st April 1994. They were killed by many Interahamwe militia together with soldiers. The same day the Tutsis at the National University of Rwanda were also killed.

    Many of Hutu lectures and professors helped killers to identify their Tutsi colleagues. Many of Hutu lectures and students of the university were stationed on roadblocks at Mukoni and at Sebukangaga. Some Tutsis who could survive a day were being surrounded at the Prefecture headquarters, at the Anglican Church and at the Butare hospital (CHUB).

    At the hospital they have been set up a tent in front of dermatology and podiatry services. At night, some would be killed and in the morning at around 9 am the truck would come to carry the bodies of killed Tutsis to be disposed.

    Tutsis arrived at the Butare prefecture headquarters on April 19, 1994 and they were being killed while women would be raped every day. Every night a car would come to pick those to be killed and the car was always supervised by Arsene Shalom Ntahobari, Nyiramasuhuko Paulina, Joseph Kanyabashi, Jumapili and Nsengiyumva. The massacre was overall led by the Prefet Nsabimana, gendarms and soldiers.

    Nyiramasuhuko went to EAR and ordered all refugees to be removed there as they were dirty in the town. She used a loudspeaker and called on all Hutu community residents to cut the bushes and remove dirty from town. All Tutsi refugees left to seek refuge at the Prefecture headquarters but they eventually suffered there.

    Later, authorities brought buses without chairs and took all Tutsi refugees, on Kanyabashi orders, and they were taken to a place called Nyange, but killers escorted the buses carrying weapons and went to kill them at Kibirizi. Very few who survived were brought back at the prefecture. Later again, the authorities came to clean the city and took the few survived Tutsis at Rango and lived a terrible life there until RPF soldiers arrived and saved them.

    On 30th April 1994, Tutsis who had fled at Ngoma Parish were killed.

    Some who were leading the killings in Butare town include bourgoumestre Kanyabashi Joseph, Munyagasheke Isaac and his son Désiré Munyaneza, Ntahobari Arsene Shalom, Nyiramasuhuko Pauline, Ntiruhanwe Jean, Kayibanda Jules Nkiko, Amandin Rugira Pacifique, Karabaranga Isaie, Murangwa Innocent, Emmanuel Setakwe, Jacques Habimana who was the Ngoma sector counselor and others. There were also soldiers and Burundi refugees.

    The following are the places in Butare town where many Tutsis were killed on 21st April 1994:

    •At Butare Prefecture Headquarters: Many Tutsis from various places were gathered there (those from Kigali, Nyaruguru, Gikongoro, Butare, Karama…). At the prefecture Tutsis suffered with hunger and thirsty, women were raped, and every time a car would come to pick some to be taken for killing. It is said that they were being killed at Kabutare and at Mukoni. Later, buses without chairs came and took Tutsis to be killed at Nyange of Kibirizi and at Gateme in Cyarwa.

    •In the University Hospital of Butare (CHUB): there was an extreme genocide, apart from Tutsi patients, patient assistants, and doctors & nurses, a number of other Tutsis took refuge there including seriously wounded ones that needed treatment.

    Those who were refugees were built a tent and gathered there. Others were put within dermatology and surgical rooms and others in from of the morgue. Every morning at 9 am, a blue Daihatsu truck would come and pick dead bodies of Tutsis who had been killed and went to dispose them. Seriously wounded people would suffer with no assistance. Many would be taken to ESSO and in IRST forest. Others would be taken by authorities at the Prefecture headquarters. They would be killed by soldiers, Burundi refugees and Interahamwe from Butare town.

    • At EAR Butare: Tutsis were killed by hunger and thirsty. No one was there to give them anything. Nyiramasuhuko came and spoke through a loud speaker and called on killers to remove dirty from EAR. They removed them and beat all the way to the Prefecture Headquarters, then packed them in cars and went to kill them. They were taken to Nyange of Kibirizi and Interahamwe killed them there.

    •In Arboretum forest and in the National University of Rwanda: Genocide here was so excessive. The university was surrounded by heavy roadblocks. One was at the front of Sebukangaga, another at Mukoni. So may Tutsis were killed at the university, in Arboretum forest and on the above mentioned roadblocks. Tutsi students, teachers/lecturers, university staff and Tutsi refugees were all killed there. A special operation was conducted to find out all the Tutsis who were hiding in the Arboretum forest. The killers made one big line and moved step by step to ensure all hiding Tutsis were found out and all were captured and killed.

    •In EAV Kabutare: there was also excessive genocide at this place. Students who were studying there and those who were brought there from Groupe Scolaire de la Salle, Byumba, which was a war zone, all were killed on the order of the school director, who was the son of Gitera Joseph Habyarimana, the founder of APROSOMA, and the one who introduced the 10 Hutu commandments in 1959. In this school there is a genocide memorial with students and teachers killed there and buried in dignity.

    •In IPRC (ESSO): During the Genocide, government soldiers who were injured from the war were brought there and found others. At ESSO, Tutsis were brought and killed and women were raped and then killed.

    {{13.Tutsis who were massacred at Rugango Parish, Huye}}

    At Rugango, Tutsis started seeking refuge on Sunday 17th April 1994 in the afternoon. They were coming from Maraba commune. On Monday, the following day, all those from the hills of Rugango Parish started also seeking refuge at the parish. They started living in the workshop area and in classes. Many others had fled to Gihindamuyaga monastery, and they camped in what they called “camp des jeunes”, others had fled to Sovu at the health center of Benedict sisters.

    Tutsis who had taken refuge at Rugango parish were massacred on 21st April 1994 in the morning, from around 8 am. Killers were led by Rekeraho Emmanuel who also led other attacks that killed Tutsis in the communes of Maraba, Mbazi, Huye and Ruhashya.

    {{14.Massacre of Tutsis at Kibirizi, Gisagara}}

    Many Tutsis who were from the former Nyaruhengeri commune fled to the commune headquarters ordered by bourgoumestre Kabeza Charles, and they were killed in the night of 21st April 1994. Victims were tortured while women were raped and after got killed. They were asked to dig pits in which they would be thrown after getting killed. Others were thrown live in the deep toilet pits, and so on.

    Sector councillors would use loud speakers that peace had been restored to ensure the hiding Tutsis come out. And once they come they would be killed. Dogs were used to hunt and discover Tutsis who were hiding in bushes.

    Roadblocks were at: At “Ku Giti cy’umukiza”, there was a roadblock led by a female called Jacqueline, a sister to Gapiri; In Bashingwa, there was a roadblock controlled by ladies including Mukamuganga, Musanganire, Furaha, and Dusabe…At a place called “Mu Mbeho” there was a roadblock led by Karambizi Alphonse; At Nyaruhengeri sector, there was a roadblock led by Rucyahana Nicodeme.

    The head killers included: Kabeza Charles, who was the Bourgoumestre of Nyaruhengeri Commune; Mujyarugamba Pascal, who was commune brigadier; Ruberabahizi Venuste, the commune agronomist; Nsabumukunzi Faustin, the councilor of Kibirizi sector; Hakizayezu Augustin, Sematama Gaspard, who came from Kansi to kill at Kibirizi, Kavamahanga Charles, Musonera Barthazar, Habyarimana Noheri, Munyashyaka Francois, etc.

    {{ Conclusion }}

    Genocide against the Tutsis was planned and implemented by the Government. The fact that Tutsis were killed from the morning of April 7, 1994 across the country, it is undeniable that it was a government’s planned agenda.

    {{Done at Kigali on April 21, 2020

    Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • APRIL 18, 1994: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GENOCIDE PERPETRATED AGAINST TUTSI THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY

    {{1.The criminal government continued to sensitise citizens to carry out Genocide}}

    On April 18, 1994, members of criminal government including Édouard Karemera, who was supposed to be the Minister of local Government visited Gitarama to sensitize people to start genocide. On that day, president Théodore Sindikubwabo visited Gikongoro and held a meeting with the authorities of Gikongoro prefecture to arrange the killings at Kaduha, Murambi, Cyanika and all sites of Gikongoro Prefecture. On his way home, Sindikubwabo stopped at Nyakizu (Butare) Commune headquarters and called upon killers to carry on killings. Sindikubwabo carried out these sensitization meetings in the presence of many citizens brought by local authorities.

    {{2. Prefect Kayishema Clement exterminated Tutsi at Gatwaro, Kibuye}}

    Gatwaro stadium was built in former Bwishyura sector, Gitesi commune, Kibuye Prefecture currently Karongi District, Bwishyura Sector, Kibuye cell, and Gatwaro village. Tutsis were taken to the stadium by the authorities especially Prefect KAYISHEMA Clément under pretext that they want to maintain their security while they are assembled at the same place. Most of refugees who flew to Gatwaro stadium had survived from elsewhere like Kibuye church, Home Saint Jean and Mubuga church. Many others came from Mabanza commune and walked a distance of 19 Km towards Kibuye prefecture and then to Gatwaro stadium.

    Before entering in the stadium, all their belongings were taken away including their batons. In the following days, all water pipes supplying the stadium were cut and they got very sick due to dirtiness and those who were injured or sick tried to go to Kibuye hospital nearby the stadium but were shoot and returned back or got killed on the way.

    KAYISHEMA would not allow any well-wisher to provide anything to refugees. A Germany doctor Wolfgang Blam together with Dr. HITIMANA Léonard continued to care for Tutsi who were injured in difficult conditions. They killed Dr. Blam’s wife first because she was a Tutsi and later the doctor and their children were killed too.

    They were killed by Joseph MPAMBARA Interahamwe from Mugonero, a brother to Obed Ruzindana who was convicted of Genocide crime by the ICTR and sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. Joseph MPAMBARA fled to the Netherlands, and was convicted by the local courts on July 9, 2011 for crime against humanity which is part of genocide planning activities and was sentenced to life imprisonment.

    On April 18, 1994, KAYISHEMA Clément launched the massacre in Gatwaro stadium by shooting dead an Adventist Pastor MUNYAKARAGWE Ezechiel with the gun that he requested from a gendarme. He came with armed Interahamwe, gendarmes, police, military and other Hutu civilians. They bordered the stadium and others went on Gatwaro hill above the stadium.

    Prefect KAYISHEMA authorized them to start killing Tutsis. They were killed with guns, grenades, machetes, pangas and other various traditional weapons. On that very day, they killed Tutsis till 6 pm. Afterward, soldiers headed to Bisesero while Interahamwe stayed overnight to check for any survivor who would escape during the night.

    At night, surviving Tutsis gathered the corpses of their colleagues and tried to give first aid at hand to those who were seriously injured. Later on during night, interahamwe decided to leave the stadium to come back in the morning. They went to celebrate at the neighbouring bar. Early morning on April 19, 1994, around 6 am, they came back at the stadium to finish off those who were breathing using traditional weapons.

    Some of the issues raised by Dr. HITIMANA Léonard included that of ensuring security for children who were taken from Home Saint Jean to the hospital. Those children were killed before he arrived at the hospital.

    Kayishema was convicted of genocide crime by the ICTR and sentenced for life imprisonment.

    {{3. Massacre of Tutsi in Kamonyi, Kayumbu}}

    Kayumbu bridge is located in Nyarusange village, Karengera cell, Musambira sector, Kamonyi district. On April 18, 1994, the head Priest Pio NTAHOBARI together with Rwakayigamba (a teacher) and a church secretary called Nyagahene denied entrance in the church for Tutsi refugees saying that they would destroy it. They camped in the market opposite the church. Killers were not satisfied and chased them away saying that Tutsi’s God is at Kabgayi that they should go there instead.

    They descended towards Kibuza (There is Kamonyi Genocide memorial) where they met an attack which they managed to escape before they could meet another one at Gaperi, killers here killed men and boys only.

    The survivors of those attacks arrived at Musambira Parish where they met the head priest Lawurenti and they were lucky to have the church opened for them. Next morning on April 19, a truck full of soldiers arrived at the church and held a meeting with Hutu refugees from Kivuye. After the meeting, the Priest told refugees to leave especially those who had come last.

    Interahamwe run after them with machetes while soldiers and presidential guards went to Kayumbu bridge and started shooting them one by one until bodies were all over the bridge. After the shooting, soldiers left the surviving ones to local citizens and interahamwe to use traditional weapons and take away their possessions most of the killers at Kayumbu bridge were not known in the area.

    {{4. Massacre of Tutsi at Nkanka Parish, Rusizi}}

    In the former Kamembe commune, many Tutsis were killed at Nkanka Parish, at the commune and at Busekanka. From April 8, 1994, Tutsi started fleeing at Nkanka Parish because the killings had already started in Gitwa and Murambi and Interahamwe had started burning their houses. All tutsi came at the Parish because the Mayor had told them that they will be protected as he had sent police at the Parish. His purpose was to be aware of the exact number of Tutsis and to prevent them from fleeing to DR Congo (former Zaire).

    On April 17, 1994 the Mayor of Kamembe commune MUBILIGI Justin Napoléon and the head priest of Nkanka Parish NGIRINSHUTI Thaddée held a meeting with local notorious interahamwe to kill Tutsis. Next day on April 18, 1994 interahamwe killed them using grenades, wooden clubs, machetes and other weapons.

    Before they would be given refuge, father NGIRINSHUTI Thaddée took away all their weapons including (sticks, amacumu, machetes, bows and arrows to prevent them for self-protection in case they are attacked. In addition, the room of policemen who were at the Parish was full of guns, grenades which were used by Interahamwe on April 18.

    On April 19, 1994, 60 Tutsis who had taken refuge at Kamembe commune were killed. They were first hidden by a staff of the commune GATERA Casimir who was intimidated by the mayor saying that he should send them out before Interahamwe destroys the entire office searching for Them. They were released and killed on spot.

    On April 18, 1994, Tutsis were slaughtered at Nyabitimba parish, Karengera (Cyangugu) Mibilizi hospital, Cyimbogo.

    {{5.Massacre of Tutsi at Simbi Parish, Maraba Commune, Huye}}

    Simbi sector is located in the former Maraba commune led by the Mayor Habineza Jean Marie Vianey since September 1990. He used to oppress Tutsis as if it was one of his duties since appointment:

    – Habineza together with policemen went to Simbi CERAI- considered as TVET (Centre d’Enseignement Rural et Artisanal Intégré) and took Mazimpaka Gregoire (the principal) as well as teacher called Kanobayire Jean Baptiste of Cyendajuru and tied them behind saying that they are confiscating guns given by Inkotanyi illegally.
    – He closely monitored and trained interahamwe to make traditional weapons that were used to kill Tutsis like wooden clubs, bows and arrows, spears, and supplied them with other equipments which includes machetes, guns and grenades.

    – He prepared Tutsis list and their location to ease their killing
    -Since the attack of Inkotanyi, no Tutsi from Maraba was allowed to leave Maraba commune without a laisser passer.

    Between April 10 and 17, 1994, all Tutsis from Maraba were gathered in Simbi church. Three policemen Nkuriza, Kanani Antoni and Nyirimana Kaniziyo ensured security of the refugees at the church and they only killed them after the visit of the President Sindikubwabo who blamed them for taking long to kill Tutsi. He then sent soldiers to help interahamwe to kill them.

    On April 18, 1994 interahamwe from Gikongoro and Maraba, soldiers, gendarmes and policemen attacked them at the church. It was on a daylight when two interahamwe climbed over the church and took off iron sheets and poured petrol over them. In addition, Bushakiro poured chilli powder amongst them and suffocated them. Afterwards, interahamwe smashed doors and threw grenades, stones on them and entered the church to chop those who were breathing. About 40,000 tutsi were massacred there.

    After killing Tutsi in Simbi church, the Mayor Habineza sent one of interahamwe Ruzindana Celestin to the Sisters’ home to inform the latter that the next to be killed are Tutsis at Simbi health centre. They immediately went and killed Sister Peter Claver, Sister Paul and Sister Pelagie. Sister Gervais was hit on head by a club and did not die on spot but she became blind. Tutsis who had taken refuge in the health center were also killed.

    The master minders were:

    Former municipal police: Nkuriza, Antoni Kanani, Nyirimana Kaniziyo Sebarinda Celestin, Nsimyukiza Clement: the deputy mayor, Rwabuhungu Sylvestre (President of MDR Power), Mujyambere Antoine former teacher and the president of MRND and others who came from Gikongoro.

    Between 2000 and 3000 Tutsis were killed on that day in Kigembe commune and Butare.

    {{6. Massacre of Tutsi at OPROVIA, Rusizi}}

    Many Tutsis from around Kamembe town and Rusizi were killed at Kamembe. From April 18, 1994 interahamwe started to attack tutsi in their homes and snatched them to kill them at Kamembe near the new market and in the nearby coffee plantations next to Kamembe sector. They were led by Napoléon MUBIRIGI, the former Kamembe mayor, Haruna Rizinde who represented MRND in Kamembe, Councillor of Kamembe Sector called MURUKU.

    The killers in Kamembe town included local interahamwe and Burundians who had taken refuge in Rwanda. The most prominent Interahamwe were Kanyarukiko Cassim, Ngenzenuku Hassan, Haluna Nsengiyumva also called Cenga, Shuwayibu also called Epis, Kimputu, Nsengiyumva and many others.

    {{7. Massacre of Tutsi in Rwamagana, Mwulire and at Sovu School}}

    Close to the starting of genocide, Tutsis who lived in the former Bicumbi commune were very oppressed by the former Mayor Semanza. After Habyarimana’s plane crash, all Tutsis were ordered to stay in their homes.

    On April 7, 1994 Hutu attacks started to invade Tutsis homes and killed them. However, some Hutus joined their tutsi colleagues to fight back the killers with the purpose of suppressing the attacks in Mwurire sector. Those Hutus were called in a meeting by interahamwe and MRND leaders to inform them to avoid supporting tutsi and Tutsis resisted for about 12 days.

    Tutsis from Mwurire, Nzige, Gahengeli, Rubona, Rutonde and Bicumbi were all gathered on the hill of Gisanza where they got killed on April 18, 1994 by municipal police and citizens who were given guns.

    Tutsis became weakened by the killers’ gunshots as their weapons which included stones, sticks got finished. Over 15.000 Tutsis got killed on the spot. Others got killed at the roadblocks like the one located near Baptist church whereby over 400 Tutsis were killed. Over 50,000 Tutsis were killed in Kabuya swamp and in the home of the councillor Bakundukize Yohani.

    Likewise, Tutsis who had taken refuge at Sovu school- Rwamagana were killed especially children, women and old women. Before killing them, girls and women were raped and killers would throw chilli powder in their private parts afterwards. On April 18, 1994 those who had killed Tutsis of Mwurire supported local Hutus of Sovu to exterminate those who were at the school.

    {{Conclusion}}

    The Genocide against the Tutsis was planned and implemented by the Government. The fact that Tutsis were killed from the morning of April 7, 1994 across the country, it is undeniable that it was a government’s planned agenda.

    Done at Kigali on April 18, 2020

    {{Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascène
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)}}

  • April 11, 1994: Genocide rages on throughout the country

    {{1. THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE BELGIAN CONTINGENT FROM ETO KICUKIRO, KIGALI, THE MASSACRES IN KICUKIRO AND NYANZA, KICUKIRO}}

    The Official Technical School of Kigali, in ETO acronym, was managed by the Salesian Fathers. Since 1963 the Tutsi have taken refuge there and were well received and assisted. As soon as the Tutsi took refuge there on April 8, 1994, gathered in the same place, they were shot, in particular they were shot with arrows, until April 11, 1994 where they were brought to the place named Nyanza of Kicukiro where they were systematically massacred.

    In 1994, within the ETO compound, there was a post of UNAMIR troops who had come in the framework of peacekeeping that is why the Tutsis took refuge there in large numbers, hoping to be protected by these well-armed UN soldiers.

    Afterward, UNAMIR abandoned them in the hands of Interahamwe and soldiers ready to massacre them on April 11, 1994. Colonel Rusatira Leonidas brought in numerous soldiers who prevented the Tutsis from fleeing to join the CND, the Parliament; the Tutsi were killed little by little from SONATUBES, on the way towards Nyanza de Kicukiro where they were brought to be exterminated there with grenades before the Interahamwe strip the victims and finish those who were still breathing.

    The Belgian contingent stationed at ETO was led by Lieutenant Luc Lemaire, himself commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Dewez, himself under the responsibility of colonel Luc Marshall deputy of general Dallaire commander of the UNAMIR. They are the first to be held responsible for the massacre of 2,000 killed on April 11, 1994.

    {{2. MASSACRES AT THE CHURCH OF THE CATHOLIC PARISH OF KIZIGURO}}

    From 7 to 10 April 1994, the Tutsi, coming from different localities, began to take refuge in the church of Kiziguro where they were told that they were going to be protected there but it was a question of letting them gather in large number because on April 11, 1994 they were killed, the massacres lasted from 10 am to 4 pm.

    They were killed by the Interahamwe mobilized by mayor Gatete Jean Baptiste, Rwabukombe Onesphore mayor of Muvumba, Mwange Jean de Dieu, Sibomana Martin, Nkundabazungu Augustin businessman, Niyonzima Deogratias (Brigadier of Commune Murambi), Munyakazi (policier), Mbuguje Jean Damascene (businessman), Muganga Manasse, Mirasano Emmanuel, Biramahire Kaguru, Karekezi Augustin, Munyabuhoro Pierre Claver, Gakombe Balthazar, Gakwerere Aloys, Mutsinzi Emmanuel, Karengera Paulin (inspector of primary school), Musoni Francois, Manihura Habib, Kabalira Sylvain, etc.

    The Genocide was supervised by soldiers from Gabiro military camp sent by Major Nkundiye Leonard.

    They were massacred in the courtyard of the priest’s home, near the water tanks, in the garden, at the dispensary, near the statue of the Virgin Mary and elsewhere behind the fence wall. There was a small wood. Those who were killed were buried in holes 60 cm deep, below the primary school. Those who were killed were transported by other Tutsi who, also arrived at their destination, were massacred and all the bodies were thrown together in a grave. Doctor Rwamakuba Emmanuel, Sekamana and Fidèle Karangwa alias Gasongo, as well as others from Kiyombe, are often cited among those who killed near the pit.

    {{3. KILLINGS AT Shagasha ADPR, CYANGUGU}}

    The Shagasha ADPR was a church where many Christians went to pray, many of them Tutsi, which is why they took refuge there. The Tutsi who took refuge in the ADPR were women and children, the men having feared to be killed there.

    About 60 Tutsi women and children took refuge there from April 11, 1994 when the Tutsi began to be killed and their houses burned down. Even if they were women and children, the Interahamwe came to select the male children to go and kill them. So that they would not be killed, they were dressed in dresses so that they could be taken for girls.

    In addition, the Tutsi men who had been captured in the Shagasha, Munyove and Rwahi sectors were brought to the ADPR Shagasha to be massacred there, many Tutsi coming from these sectors were thus killed at this church.

    {{4. MASSACRES IN SAVE, IN GISUMA, CYANGUGU}}

    In the former Ggisuma Commune, in Ruharambuga Sector, Gihinga Cell, in Cyangugu Prefecture, currently in Nyamasheke District, Ruharambuga Sector, Save Cell, were gathered on April 11, 1994 near 50 Tutsi in the house of Mukandagara Odette, who all been killed. They had previously been surrounded in this cell before they were all brought to this house and were killed there.

    In the former Nyamuhunga Sector, Kimpundu Cell were also killed over 1,000 Tutsi who had been rounded up by Interahamwe from this locality.

    The Tutsi had taken refuge there from the evening of April 9, 1994, and after their number had increased, they were all surrounded and killed on April 11, 1994 in broad daylight. They were killed by Interahamwe who came from cells close to this sector, and by municipal police. The Interahamwe were led by the Sector Advisor and Rujigo Francois. The municipal police had previously arrived at the Tutsi refugees, reassuring them that they were coming to protect them while it was to keep them together so that they did not flee to other places.

    {{5. MASSACRES AT THE HANIKA PARISH, CYANGUGU}}

    In the parish of Hanika, currently in Nyamasheke District, in the Macuba sector, nearly 15,000 Tutsi who had taken refuge there were killed in the premises they occupied: the premises of the priests, the health center and the nutritional center, locals who all belonged to the Hanika Parish.

    Among the Interahamwe who killed them was Alphonse alias Rasta, son of Pasteur who was a soldier. It was he who grenade killed Tutsi Ngoboka Saveur and Gasheme, son of Basabose, the latter was an employee of Gatera Fabien who took care of his vehicles. Among the other Interahamwe are Hatunguramye Joseph, Hanyurwa Valens, Nkerabahizi Oscar, Michel Bahimaya, Mukono, trader in Kirambo, who offered beer to the Interahamwe so that they could go and kill with high morale. These Interahamwe were among the leaders of the Interahamwe and among the most zealous of them who participated in the massacres of Tutsi in the Hanika Parish.

    The Tutsi of the Gatare Commune began to take refuge in the Hanika Parish on April 8 and 9, 1994, when they noticed that the Hutu had started to form groups and to denounce the Tutsi as what they would have killed the Father of the Nation. On April 9, 1994, a young man who had been killed with a sword by one of his neighbors was buried on April 10, 1994 in the locality of Muramba-Gitwa; the Tutsi who attended the funeral were mocked by Hutu who told them that now they were going to bury theirs forever.

    On April 11, 1994, the Bourgmestre of the former Gatare Commune, Rugwizangoga Fabien, arrived on the scene around 12 noon, he had just met with Emmanuel Bagambiki, the Prefect of Cyangugu. Some time later, around 3 p.m., when the bourgmestre had just left the locality, a group of killers attacked the Tutsi refugees to massacre them.

    Among the killers was a woman by the name of Marigarita, who had been a counselor even before the outbreak of the liberation war in 1990, and who was reputed to have imprisoned many Tutsi on the false pretext that they were accomplices of the Inkotanyi.

    {{6. AT MIDIHO, KAYONZA, KIBUNGO}}

    In the Mukarange Sector, at the place called Midiho, in the Nyagatovu Cell, on April 11, 1994, more than 200 Tutsi who had taken refuge in the EAR Nyagatovu were killed, and at the head of the killers was the merchant Kanyengoga Thomas from the Kayonza shopping center. Until today, the bodies of the victims of this massacre have never been found to be buried in dignity.

    {{CONCLUSION}}

    The Genocide against the Tutsi was planned and carried out by the state. The fact that since the morning of April 7, 1994, the Tutsi were at the same time massacred throughout the country, from Kigali, and elsewhere, demonstrates without the slightest doubt that the Genocide was planned by the State Rwandan.

    {{Done at Kigali, 11/4/2020

    Dr. BIZIMANA Jean Damascene
    Executive Secretary
    National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide, CNLG}}