Speaking to IGIHE, Mukarurinda has talked about the role of Gacaca courts in reconciling Genocide survivors and how they have helped her to forgive perpetrators who killed relatives.
Raised in former Kayumba sector, Mukarurinda was a follower of the Catholic Church. In 1959, the then Government expelled their families from Kigali and settled them to Bugesera where they continued to endure oppression.
Mukarurinda passed Primary Six national examinations but was delisted from students allowed to pursue education in secondary school because she was a Tutsi.
As she narrated, Tutsi were ousted from leadership positions that time and replaced by Hutus so that they could facilitate the provision of a list showing Tutsi targeted to be killed.
“In 1991, our children and brothers realized that things had fallen apart. The then Government started making a list of Tutsi employed in public institutions to be killed. Cell leaders and village leaders were also relieved saying that no Tutsi will assume leadership position again, “revealed Mukarurinda.
They continued to endure persecution until 1994 when the long-planned Genocide began.
On 13th April 1994, she said, a bus brought soldiers and Interahamwe militia in Ntarama and started killing Tutsi.
“They had guns and grenades to kill whoever identified as Tutsi. I was outside with a 9-month old baby on the back. It saw them setting the church ablaze. As they started firing, I immediately run away with my husband,” she revealed.
On 29th April 1994, soldiers reached them in a papyrus marshland where they had sought refuge and heinously killed her children.
“They were many soldiers who surrounded the papyrus marshland and shortly reached me. I heard them saying ‘return them home in Ethiopia’. They entered the papyrus thicket and started stabbing us. They hit me with a thick wooden truncheon on the head and split my nine year old bay into two parts,” she said.
Mukarurinda explained that RPF Inkotanyi soldiers later came to rescue them and started providing first aid to heal the wounds of those who were still breathing.
{{Journey to forgiveness }}
After the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Mukarurinda supported unity and reconciliation efforts despite tragedies she went through.
In 2003, she become a judge in Gacaca traditional court that was established to provide a solution for the complex nature of the cases related to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During her duties, Mukarurinda learnt that perpetrators who killed relatives confessed and apologized.
“I was appointed the secretary of Gacaca court in Nyamata. Perhaps, God wanted to make me strong. I used to see files of genocide suspects and meet with convicted perpetrators. Some of them were released upon Presidential mercy,” he noted.
It was not easy for Mukarurinda for forgive a perpetrator who stabbed her but she gradually calmed down when perpetrators revealed whereabouts her parents were killed and dumped.
More perpetrators continued to come for apology that she finally felt relaxed and forgave them. Mukarurinda currently belongs to the same unity and reconciliation group along with forgiven perpetrators.
“We work together and belong to the same unity and reconciliation group. I neither feel suspicious nor associate them with wrongful acts in daily lives because I forgave them,’ she said.
The President of IBUKA in Bugesera district, Chantal Bankundiye has also emphasized that Gacaca courts played a great role in reuniting Rwandans.
“We appreciate the contribution of Gacaca courts and the Government for introducing the approach because it would take so long for many Genocide survivors to get justice considering the enormous backlog of genocide-related cases. Moreover, Gacaca courts helped to unite genocide survivors and perpetrators,” she revealed.
“Unity and reconciliation in Bugesera district stands at good progress despite the sorrow and nightmare Tutsi went through in the area. As of today, there are genocide perpetrators who apologized to offended survivors and forgiven as others who completed their sentence are underway to join the journey,” added Bankundiye.
Experts in history and political science show that France had a strong desire to deepen ties with Rwanda as a country where it could easily have political influence to inculcate French language by all means.
The country feared that French language would become obsolete in case English language is facilitated to spread and dominate in Rwanda would, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo Brazzaville, Central African Republic, and Cameroun among other African countries.
An author and researcher on Rwanda’s history, Innocent Nizeyimana has revealed that President Grégoire Kayibanda held the first visit in France in October 1962 under the leadership of Charles de Gaulle.
In a speech held in Paris, France; Kayibanda thanked De Gaulle for granting Independence to African countries and continuous support towards ‘full independence’ through the ongoing support to attain promote and exploit their natural resources.
At the time, Kayibanda said: “I am hopeful that such support will be extended to us even though were not a colony of France.”
Following the visit, both countries signed the first cooperation agreements on 20th October 1962.
Few days later, French envoys came to Rwanda to make preparations for three cooperation agreements in the areas of economy, culture and cooperation in technical matters.
These agreements were signed on 4th November 1962 but France had no ambassador in Rwanda prior to that time.
Jacques Mullender, the then France’s head of mission for Rwanda and Burundi between 1962-1966 said that his country had to move slowly before deepening ties with Rwanda during post-independence period.
“We refrained from releasing huge funds and expressing strong desire to cultivate ties with Rwanda to avoid jealousy between France and Belgium,” he said.
He went on to explain that Belgium committed to cater for national budgets and invested in mega projects (building airports and telecommunications infrastructure) when Rwanda and Burundi obtained independence.
“Moreover, they would send 200 employees to provide assistance in technical matters in each country. So, we could not allocate huge budget to Rwanda without enough personnel to supervise how the money were utilized,” he said.
Innocent Nizeyimana has explained that Kayibanda did not openly develop strong relations with France lest he clashes with Belgium.
“It is said that France might have been part of plans to overthrow Kayibanda which set ground for new reforms,” he said.
History shows that the first batch of Rwanda’s soldiers went for military training in France in 1972.
{{How Habyarimana fostered relations }}
In the years between 1969 and 1970, Kayibanda expelled people he called ‘undesired’.
These include Belgians, business people from Oman, and Indians.
“This fueled white people’s anger against Kayibanda and gradually broke up with him. However, it is important to note that France had started seeking ways to penetrate into the country during Kayibanda’s leadership,” explained Nizeyimana.
After Juvénal Habyarimana overthrew Kayibanda, France started developing close ties with the new president whose mindsets were different from his predecessor. Two years after taking office, Rwanda signed cooperation agreements with France.
At the time, both countries signed military cooperation agreements. It was the first of its kind signed between both countries.
The agreements incorporated clauses stating that France would provide military trainings and help the country to get weapons. It is said that France provided 4 million of its then currency to Rwanda annually.
Following the signing of these agreements, Valéry Giscard d’Estaing who was the then France President, visited Rwanda, in May 1979 where he spent three days.
He was along with his wife, Anne-Aymone Giscard d’Estaing during their visit to Rwanda in 1979 where they attended the Sixth Conference Franco-Africaine (Franco-African Conference) held in Kigali.
Giscard arrived in ahead of the conference visited various projects in Rwanda and went to Akagera National Park for hunting exercise.
On 18th May 1979, Giscard and Habyarimana with their wives went to former Ruhengeri Prefecture where they visited Ruhengeri Hospital and school of Gendarmerie (a military force with law enforcement duties). They returned to Kigali in the afternoon and signed cooperation agreements.
Part of these agreements include France’s commitment to fund rural development, expansion of Kigali International Airport, building tanks for petroleum products, promoting telecommunication, building a hospital in Gisenyi among others.
Speaking to journalists, both head of states revealed that France would establish a school of nurses additional to Ruhengeri Hospital and providing 50% of funds for expansion of Kigali International Airport.
The Sixth Franco-African Conference ran from Monday 21st May until 22nd May 1979. The conference discussed issues pertaining to advancing Africa’s development and how France can cement its participation.
French report dubbed ‘Quilès’ explains that military training clauses paved the way for strengthening the capacity of Rwanda’s gendarmes to become competent as French counterparts.
These agreements were revised in 1983 to incorporate military cooperation but French soldiers were prohibited to take part in any preparations of war.
These agreements restricting French soldiers’ involvement in wars were still valid at the start of liberation struggle.
In August 1992, existing agreements were revised again whereby Gendarmerie Rwandaise was replaced by Forces Armées Rwandaises (Rwanda Armed Forces) and allowed France’s military to participate in all activities of Rwanda’s military.
The Quilès report explained that the amendments were made two years after RPF Inkotanyi soldiers raided Rwanda for the first time.
“It is unbelievable that French leaders, civilians and soldiers didn’t realize they had spent more than a year participating in military operations on Rwanda’s land without permission. Existing agreements only permitted them to reinforce Gendarmerie not the military,” reads part of the report.
{{France during Genocide against Tutsi }}
Analysts link the agreements to France’s role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi observing that they paved way for support to reinforce Habyarimana’s military to fight RPF Inkotanyi as well as training Interahamwe.
In 1998, France parliament delegated a committee to investigate the country’s role during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The committee summoned people including Giscard d’Estaing to shed light on military cooperation agreements signed with Rwanda in 1975 as they were considered to have fueled France’s role in Rwanda.
Giscard d’Estaing replied that he didn’t understand the laws granting the committee to summon the former president for interrogation to explain reasons for activities or politics implemented by the Government he led.
He explained that what happened between his country and Rwanda has no connection to France’s role during genocide.
In 2009; an author called Odile Tobner run a publication explaining that the major purpose of France, Rwanda military cooperation was to inspect the extraction of minerals in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that the role played during genocide was auxiliary.
France has been denying complicity in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi for the past 27 years despite the pressure by non-governmental organizations, journalists and researchers among others urging the country to reveal the truth on its role.
On 26th March 2021, a committee of 13 expert researchers and historians delegated by Emmanuel Macron presented its findings on the role of France during Genocide against Tutsi.
The report indicated that France bears “heavy and overwhelming responsibilities” over tragic history that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which took lives of over 1 million victims.
It was presented two years, after the delegation of 13 historians started reviewing archives on France, Rwanda relations between 1990 and 1994.
The report blames the then French President, François Mitterrand, for a “failure” of policy towards Rwanda in 1994. The findings were made public after years of French official secrecy over links to the Government led by Juvenal Habyarimana.
President Macron appointed the 15-member commission two years ago, giving them access to presidential, diplomatic, military and intelligence archives.
Among the archives are those of Mitterrand, who had close ties to former Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana.
An expert in political science and history, Dr. Jean Paul Kimonyo recently told IGIHE that that the relevance of the report relies on its resolutions.
“In fact, the gist of the report lies in its resolutions. It has two resolutions. The first states that French people had heavy and overwhelming responsibility to what happened in Rwanda between 1990 and 1994. Secondly, it is the first time an entity from France makes such a statement. That’s a great milestone,” he said.
“Taking stock of the situation in the past five years, an individual trying to ask former France officials if the country was accomplice to Habyarimana or Genocidal Government was mocked. The report clears France of complicity but asking the question also has a strong relevance,” added Dr. Kimonyo.
He explained that implications of the report proves the country’s role during Genocide particularly allies to the then President Mitterand even though it is not mentioned directly.
Dr. Kimonyo finds that Duclert report is a great step to restoring Rwanda, France relations considering the strong willingness of President Macron since he took office in 2017.
In January 2019, SKOL Brewery Ltd Rwanda shed light on the deal inked with Arsenal in a press briefing.
At the time, the brewer explained that the partnership will see enthusiasts of SKOL drinks standing chance to win flight tickets to watch live Arsenal matches through different raffle draws organized by SKOL.
Later on, the company organized different social events bringing together SKOL and Arsenal fans to socialize as they watch Arsenal matches.
The brewer also organized other activities like SKOL-ARSENAL Coaching clinic where Arsenal coaches came to Rwanda to train players from different football teams in Rwanda including Kiyovu Sports, Mukura VS, AS Kigali, Police FC and Rayon Sports as the host.
The ceremony to close the coaching clinic coincided with the draw that gave chance to Arsenal fans to win flight tickets to watch Arsenal match live in the season 2019/2020.
Two lucky fans including Jean Marie Vianney Ndayambaje and Jean Claude Bikorimana alias Wanyanza won the tickets.
In the following days, SKOL organized another social event bringing together football fans to watch the final match of Europa league as Arsenal faced off Chelsea Fc.
The event took place at KCEV, in premises of former Camp Kigali attracting a big fan base. It was also attended by the CEO of Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Clare Akamanzi along with the former Minister of Trade and Industry, Soraya Hakuziyaremye.
During the event, another fan, Joel Dukuze became the 3rd lucky winner of a flight ticket to watch Arsenal match at Emirates Stadium in England.
Their schedule to fly to Arsenal Fc match in May 2020 coincided with COVID-19 pandemic that has caused unprecedented effects worldwide. As Coronavirus pandemic emerged, flights were suspended to contain its spread. Fans were also restricted to watch matches live until today. So, winners who won tickets through SKOL draw requested for a refund because they could not travel.
Jean Claude Bikorimana has revealed that they had secured all travel permits but Coronavirus presented unusual circumstances that they were told to wait until the situation normalizes.
After realizing that COVID-19 uncertainties might take longer than expected, they looked for an alternative that could impact their lives.
“Considering the situation and the fact that life has become tough during Coronavirus pandemic; I and my colleagues asked SKOL to compensate our tickets with tangible support to take care of ourselves and our families. SKOL understood our request and did so. The support improved our families’ livelihoods in no smaller part. We are grateful to SKOL and our preferred team Arsenal for respecting our wish and giving us money to help our families to survive amidst the pandemic’s uncertainties,” said Bikorimana.
Winners received cash as an alternative to tickets as well as gifts and other items bearing the branding of SKOL and Arsenal at the training football pitch of Rayon Sports in Nzove in 2020, in a cheerful event during which they enjoyed ‘SKOL Malt’ drink.
Before SKOL inked deal with Arsenal, the brewer had existing partnership agreements with Rayon Sports FC that were revised recently on 25th March 2021 to increase injected funds from Rwf 66 million to over Rwf 200 million.
IGIHE has learnt that Sheikh Nshimiyimana lured the boy with gifts to sodomize him at different times.
RIB spokesperson, Dr. Murangira B. Thierry has confirmed to IGIHE that Sheikh Nshimiyimana has been arrested as investigation is underway.
“The arrested man is detained at Nyamata RIB station as investigation is underway to make files that will be transferred to the Prosecution. The boy he is suspected to have defiled was taken to Nyamata Hospital for medical checkup and gather evidences that will be used during court proceedings,” he said.
Dr. Murangira said that such acts won’t be tolerated and reminded the public to provide information to prevent the crime.
“RIB would like to remind Rwandan residents that they should not cover defilement suspects. Whoever commits the crime should face justice. It should be a collective responsibility of every Rwandan to completely prevent the crime,” he noted.
IGIHE has also learnt that Sheikh Nshimiyimana was an Imam of Ngoma mosque in Huye district 2014 before becoming an Imam of a mosque in Bugesera district since 2019.
Upon conviction, article 133 of Rwanda’s penal code stipulates that a person who commits child defilement is liable to imprisonment for a period of not less than 20 years and not more than 25 years, if the victim is 14 years or older.
If child defilement is committed on a child under fourteen (14) years, the penalty is life imprisonment that cannot be mitigated by any circumstances.
Police and local leaders found the group congregating in a cave located in Gaturo Village, Rega cell of Bigogwe Sector.
Nyabihu District Police Commander (DPC), Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) Paul Byuma and the executive secretary for Bigogwe Sector, Jean Pierre Gahutu Tebuka led the enforcement of the directives.
SSP Byuma said the worshippers belong to seven different churches.
The group was led by one Pastor Claude Samvura from Kanzenze sector in Rubavu District, who is among the arrested violators.
The majority of them were found either without face mask or wearing them badly.
The Executive secretary told the violators that conducting such gatherings undermines the government efforts against the pandemic.
“The country is still registering new Coronavirus infections and people are dying. One of you could be infected and that would be easy to infect all of you,” Tebuka said.
He warned that local authorities will continue to work with security organs to penalize anyone, who disregards the government prevention guidelines.
SSP Byuma thanked residents, who report such violations.
“We received information that there is a big group of people congregating in the cave and that it was not the first time. Police and local leaders went there and found them in a cave under a big rock. Besides holding a prohibited gathering, being in that cave itself was very risky,” the DPC said.
He appealed to everyone to comply with the directives and go to authorized places of worship instead of putting their lives in danger.
The trio arrested on April 16, include the ringleader identified as Jean Paul Rwagasore, 34.
Others are Eric Uwihoreye, 32, and Daniel Nsanzabera, 44. Nsanzabera was mainly buying the assorted stolen electronics, which he was selling on the black market.
Police also recovered assorted stolen electronic items from the suspects, including six laptops, two flat TV sets and eight digital cameras.
Others include four hard disks, two sound speakers, computer CPUs and amplifiers.
Rwagasore, who holds a degree in ICT, admitted that he started these shoddy dealings in December, last year. He argued that he started stealing after incurring losses in his varied businesses.
In 2017, Rwagasore said, he started an electronics repair shop in Kazi ni Kazi business centre in Nyarugenge but bowed out after making losses.
He shifted to Uganda in 2019 where he also failed to sustain his business, returned to Rwanda in June 2020, and started smuggling second-hand clothes into the country from DRC.
“After all these losses, I started to steal targeting mainly electronics like computers and their accessories, phones and money, from different shops in Kigali,” narrated Rwagasore.
{{Surveilling targeted shops }}
According to Rwagasore, he would make several visits to a targeted shop, get all the necessary information to successfully execute his plan.
“During that period surveilling a specific electronics shop, I would also forge the key to the shop and knowing the best suitable time to break in and grab valuable electronic items like phones, computers and even money,” said Rwagasore.
{{Burglary record }}
In December 2020, Rwagasore allegedly broke into a shop at Inkurunziza in Nyarugenge and stole two laptops, two external hard disks, four flash disks, one digital camera with its two flash lights.
He later sold them to Daniel Nsanzabera for Rwf350,000.
In February 2021, Rwagasore and Eric Uwihoreye stole three laptops, one digital camera and Rwf77000 from a shop called New Technology Ltd located in Gisozi, Gasabo District.
Rwagasore said that he also sold the laptops and camera to Nsanzabera at a cost of Rwf250,000.
Also in February, investigations indicate that Rwagasore stole Frw27, 000 at a milk zone operating at near Iposita in Nyarugenge.
Early this month, Rwagasore and Uwihoreye broke into a shop opposite T2000 Shopping Mall where they stole 12 digital cameras, one laptop and a power bank.
Investigations further indicate that on April 13, Rwagasore stole three hair cutting clippers, a flat TV and radio from a salon in Kacyiru, Gasabo District.
“We understand that Rwagasore was working with other people, who were buying these stolen items from him and selling them on the black market; their identities are known, they will be traced and arrested to face justice,” CP Kabera said.
“Making losses in businesses like Rwagasore claims, is not a reason to engage in such criminal activities; think about another legal ways to bounce back but not stealing. Even some of the businesses he claims he incurred losses were illegal like smuggling clothes and shoes,” CP Kabera said.
The Spokesperson warned that like many other thieves have been arrested in the past, even those still involved in these criminal acts will soon be arrested.
“There is strong collaboration between the Police and the public, which is a strong tool to identify, locate and arrested any suspected criminal,” he warned.
The statement released last night shows that 22 people have caught the virus while 159 recovered.
Rwanda confirmed the first Coronavirus case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23 888 people have been tested positive of whom 22 241 have recovered, 1322 are active cases, 6 are critically ill while 325 have succumbed to the virus.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
The statement released last night shows that the majority of new cases were found in Gicumbi: 10 while Kigali city recorded 9 cases.
Rwanda confirmed the first COVID-19 case on 14th March 2020. Since then, 23866 people have been tested positive of whom 22082 have recovered, 1462 are active cases, 6 are critically ill while 322 have succumbed to the virus.
Coronavirus symptoms include coughing, flu, and difficulty in breathing. The virus is said to be transmitted through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract.
Rwandans are urged to adhere to COVID-19 health guidelines, washing hands frequently using soaps and safe water, wearing face masks and respecting social distancing.
Jean Baptiste Byiringiro, 30, and Mukeshimana Speciose ,35, were arrested red-handed on April 15, in Gakomero Village, Gacurabwenge Cell, Busasamana Sector.
The Western Region Police Spokesperson, Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, said the two suspects, both residents of Gasiza Cell, had just received the consignment from another supplier, who is still at large.
“ANU had information that Byiringiro and Mukeshimana are among the big dealers and that had received a new consignment from their supplier in Gacurabwenge Sector. They were arrested at about 8pm on April 15, with a bundle of 5000 pellets of cannabis as they headed to Gasiza Cell where, it is believed, they were going to supply retailers,” CIP Karekezi said.
The spokesperson lauded residents of Rubavu, who have continued to exhibit high spirit of responsiveness in reporting drug dealers.
“There is increase in arrest of major drug dealers especially in Rubavu and Rusizi districts, all due to the strong partnership between Police and the public in information sharing,” the spokesperson said.
The arrest of Byiringiro came just two days after ANU arrested another major drug dealer also in Rubavu, Kanzenze Sector with 2,363 pellets of cannabis.
Three other drug dealers were arrested on April 8, in Gicumbi and Nyamasheke districts with 28kgs and 1,073 pellets of cannabis.
Another major drug trafficker was arrested on April 1, in Gacurabwenge Sector, Rubavu District with 5,000 pellets of cannabis.
Article 3 of the Ministerial order nº 001/MoHo/2019 of 04/03/2019 establishing the list of narcotic drugs and their categorisation, classifies cannabis among the “very severe narcotics.”
Article 263 of the law determining offenses and penalties in general, provides a sentence of between 20 years and life in prison for anyone convicted of dealing in “very severe narcotic drugs” and a fine of between Rwf20 million and Rwf30 million.
The event that took place on Wednesday 14th April 2021 brought together Rwandans living in Qatar and four diplomats representing their African countries in Qatar. These include Eswatini, Ghana, Mali and Haiti as well as a lecturer from Nigeria.
These diplomats reflected how Genocide was perpetrated with extreme cruelty and urged genocide survivors to strive for a peaceful and united world and live in harmony with others.
Rwanda’s ambassador in Qatar, François Nkulikiyimfura said that people should learn from dark history that characterized the country to prevent reoccurrence of what happened.
“Today, we remember women, men, girls and boys killed for their innate personality. They were people like me who had dreams and aspirations to support their families build our nation. Remembering should be everyone’s responsibility to preserve history for future generation to know the truth and learn from what happened,” he said.
Amb. Nkulikiyimfura also called on international community to whip crackdown on genocide fugitives roaming freely as well as propagandists denying and trivializing Genocide to face justice.
“Bringing to book people who perpetrated Genocide and others trivializing it helps to heal wounds of genocide survivors and facilitates unity and reconciliation. It is shameful to see people that continue to trivialize Genocide. Such acts continue to hurt genocide survivors,” he noted.
Rwanda began the 27th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi on 7th April 2021. During the mourning period that lasts for 100 days from April to July, Rwandans inside the country and abroad are joined by their friends to honor genocide victims.
