Tag: HomeAmateka

Bisesero was a home to Tutsi population of about 60,000, and during the Genocide there was a history of Tutsi self-defense that reached the point where till May killers were unable to break through. Many Tutsi had also fled to Bisesero and were all killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Many Tutsi decided to flee to Bisesero because there were many Tutsi living there and in 1959 and beyond, they were able to resist the massacre of Tutsi. Tutsi from different parts of Kibuye and Gikongoro prefectures; Rubengera, Rutsiro, Rwamatamu, Gisovu, Gikongoro, Gishyita and Gitesi had taken refuge in Bisesero. They hoped that if they came together and join their efforts they would fight the attacks together and defeat them. This was even so because till May, killers had not been able to set fire on a single house or eat any of their cows.

On april 7, 1994, after the news broke that Habyarimana had died, in some areas of Kibuye and Gikongoro, local Tutsi started to be killed and fled to Bisesero. Soon, the Basesero also had to leave their homes and flee to Muyira and Gitwe hills. Other Tutsi who fled to Bisesero were survivors from other parts like Mubuga Church, Rwamatamu, Gitwa, Gatwaro Stadium, Kayove and elsewhere.

{{1. Tutsi who fled to Bisesero resisted the attacks }}

They spent a long time confronting killers’ attacks and retaliating them and even killing some of the killers and taking away their guns even though they did not know how to use them for self-defense. Their history of self-defense lasted for long time, fighting against killers with various weapons including guns while Basesero used sticks, stones, spears and bows.

Tutsi from Gisovu and Rwankuba (the northern part of Bisesero) fought on Mount Muyira while others rallied on Mount Gitwe (southern part) and that is where they were fighting the Killers’ attacks. Their tactic was to confront killers and fight them even though some would be killed but they also had to kill some of the killers and they often defeated the killers and the latter became discouraged and ran away, especially since their weapons were taken away.

The Interahamwe attacks started on April 7, 1994, and the Tutsi of Bisesero would get together to identify the source of the attacks and stop them to prevent them from entering Bisesero. In the morning, when the killers came, the Tutsi would be gathered on the top of the mountains and assault them with stones and when the stones got finished, they would all go down the hill at once and confront them to prevent killers from killing women and children as well as their cows. They would fight until killers get tired and run away. The Tutsi who were about to be overpowered by the Interahamwe, would join their comrades on other hills and join forces to ensure their victory.

The attacks came from various places: from Gisovu Commune, Rwamatamu up to Ngoma, in Mubuga Commune, and others from Gishyita Commune. Despite the attacks were from the above mentioned areas, the killers were from all communes of Kibuye prefecture and from some communes of Gikongoro. The Tutsi fighters were led by Birara Aminadabu, his son Nzigira, Segikware, Habiyambere and Paul Bitega who were later killed. There are also some survivors including Karamaga Simeon, Aron Gakoko and Vincent Munyaneza.

As Tutsi in Bisesero had been fighting the Interahamwe for days till the end of April, officials, including former Kibuye Prefect KAYISHEMA Clement and others, wrote a letter to the former Minister of interior government called Eduard KAREMERA who was from Kibuye.

They requested him for help to expel the Inkotanyi from Bisesero (at that time Tutsi were called Inkotanyi who were threatening people’s security in Bisesero), he also agreed that he would seek help from the former army chief in Gisenyi and Kibuye, Colonel Anatole NSENGIYUMVA with whom they started to prepare it.

From 01/05/1994 to 12/05/1994, there were no further attacks on Bisesero, the Tutsi started to rest and thought that there would be no more attacks and some started to return to their normal activities such as agriculture, animal husbandry and others. However, the killers had gone to plan for exterminating attacks. For the 2 weeks, the killers were planning to exterminate the Tutsi who had taken refuge in Bisesero.

{{2. Exterminating attacks on Bisesero on 13/5/1994}}

Friday 13/05/1994 was the first day of the relentless attacks on Bisesero, which consisted of soldiers from Presidential Guard, other soldiers who fled the fighting, the Interahamwe from different parts and habituated killers from Bugarama in Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri and Gikongoro.

The top leaders all possessed guns including Eliezer Niyitegeka, former minister, Clement Kayishema, Kibuye prefect, Alfred Musema, who ran Gisovu tea factory, Obed Ruzindana, a prominent businessman, and his brother Joseph Mpambara, Charles Sikubwabo, the Bourgmestre of Gishyita commune, Aloys Ndimbati who was the Bourgmestre of Gisovu Commune, Gerard Ntakirutimana who was in charge of Mugonero Hospital, John Yusuf Munyakazi who was the leader of Interahamwe in Bugarama, Cyangugu and others.

All of these were familiar in leading attacks on Tutsi in different parts of Kibuye and Cyangugu. The killings started on April 13, 1994, from 9 am till 4pm. The ONATRACOM buses, trucks of Tutsi who had been killed, the COLAS trucks usually used to construct the Kibuye-Gitarama road and other small vehicles full of government officials, soldiers and members of the Presidential Guards, many Interahamwe started killing Tutsi in Bisesero where they had taken refuge in the Muyira and Gitwe hills. Tutsi failed to hit them back as usual due to the fact that the attacks were so intense and they could not withstand the heavy weapons carried by killers.

The killers attacked the Tutsi while shouting “Let us destroy them”. They shot on Tutsi, threw grenades at them and other killers used traditional weapons and the bodies of many children, women, and the elderly filled the place. The attack weakened the Basesero and killed many of them. More than 30,000 Tutsi reportedly were killed that day. The killings stopped at around 5:30 pm that day and afterwards killers had a meeting at a place called ” Ku Cyapa” between Gishyita and Gisovu communes to plan how the killings would be carried out next morning.

At that place, Eliezer NIYITEGEKA grabbed a Tutsi girl, stripped her off her clothes and raped her in front of other killers, and immediately threw her at the Interahamwe who cut her off.

The killers returned again on May 14, 1994 and also killed Tutsi living less than 10,000 Tutsi. Survivors of the massacre started to hide in the bushes and running in the mountains, fleeing from the Interahamwe who shot at them and killed them gradually. Those who had been injured were hunted by dogs.

Most of top perpetrators of genocide in Bisesero were convicted, others are still wanted:

-* KAREMERA Edouard sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda;
-* NIYITEGEKA Eliezer, sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and died in the prison;
-* NTAKIRUTIMANA Elizaphan, convicted of genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and sentenced to 10 years in prison;
-* Col. NSENGIYUMVA Anatole, convicted of genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
-* NTAKIRUTIMANA Gerard , convicted of genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and sentenced to 25 years in prison;
-* MUHIMANA Mika, convicted of genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and was sentenced to life imprisonment;
-* MPAMBARA Joseph, convicted of genocide by Dutch courts and sentenced to life imprisonment;
-* KAYISHEMA Clement, convicted of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and sentenced to life imprisonment;
-* MUSEMA Alfred , convicted of genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, sentenced to life imprisonment;
-* RUZINDANA Obedwas convicted of genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and sentenced to 25 years in prison;
-* MUNYAKAZI John Yusuf was convicted of genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and sentenced to 25 years in prison;
-* NDIMBATI Aloys, escaped justice and is wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda;
-* SIKUBWABO Charles, escaped justice and he is wanted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
-* FURERE Abel (formerly the Bourgmestre of Rwamatamu Commune);
-* SEGATARAMA Simon (Was the councillor of Gitabura Sector);
-* SEBAHIRE John (was a Police Officer and died in Bisesero);
-* RUTAGANIRA Vincent (he was a Councilor of Mubuga Sector);
-* RUKAZAMYAMBI (he was a Police Officer from Rutsiro and died in Bisesero).

Many perpetrators involved in the genocide against the Tutsi in Bisesero and fled justice:

-* NYAKANA HABIMANA Joseph: former councilor of the Twumba sector, he is suspected to be living in Congo;
-* NZIHONGA Elysée: He was a teacher in the Gitabura sector, he lives in Congo forests;
-* MUSABYIMANA Pierre: An ex FAR from Gisovu sector and he is suspected to be in the Congo forests;
-* NDAMAGE: former Secretary of Gisovu Commune who fled and never returned;
-* KAYIGEMA Alexis: who was the Director of IGA Gisovu and lives in France;
-* KAMILI (son Mpamira) was a trader in Mubuga, fled to Uganda;
-* TWAGIRAYEZU Jean Baptiste, was sentenced by Gacaca;
-* NGERAGEZE Dan, former assistant mayor of the Gishyita commune;
-* BUGINGO Joseph ex bourgmestre of the commune of Gisovu;
-* Abbe TWAGIRAYEZU Marcel ex-parish priest of the Catholic parish of Mubuga, fled to France;
-* BIZIMUNGU ex FAR;
-* KARIBANA Uziah ex assistant bourgmestre of Gishyita commune, fled after the genocide;
-* MUHIRWA Uzziel former advisor to the Musenyi sector and others.

Done at Kigali on May 13, 2020

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

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)}}

{{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)}}

{{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)}}

The Ministry of Health has indicated that it is ready to take new measures while easing the Coronavirus prevention guidelines to check the spread risks and increase the number of treatment facilities in Kanyinya and Nyamata.

The Director-General of Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, told the media that the more people go out to work, the higher the risk of spreading the virus and are therefore working around the clock to introduce new measures that will keep most risks at bay.

“There are two facilities where COVID-19 patients are treated but we are also preparing a team that will operate two other facilities,” he said.

He said that the Ministry will also increase the number of people tested and to make the service more accessible to the public.

{{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)}}

{{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)}}

President Kagame made the call on Wednesday during a virtual meeting of the African Union Bureau with chairs of regional economic communities with at the head, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current AU chairman.

The Head of State commended President Ramaphosa, for leading the AU Bureau so dynamically during the COVID-19 pandemic and as the chair of the East African Community (EAC), gave an update on what the EAC is doing to fight the virus.

“The focus of attention has been to minimize the cross-border movement of people while ensuring that the free movement of goods is able to continue. The East African Community has also provided mobile testing laboratories for the Member States to use at designated border crossings,” President Kagame said, addressing the meeting.

President Kagame said the East African region has made some good progress but that there is still more work to be done, particularly in the areas of coordination and harmonization, where he called for more efforts.

“A comprehensive regional response plan is still needed, and really owning up fully to this heavy responsibility where we not only do our best in our own countries but share information and harmonize the way we go about business in the whole region,” he noted.

President Kagame once again reminded the continent not to forget the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is supposed to be fully operationalized in July, although its rollout is likely to be affected by COVID-19.

“As we have responded to COVID-19 effectively, we may also bear in mind the very important objective that lies ahead in implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area, but this will be after we have managed and come out of this situation we find ourselves in. This will be part of normalization as we start allowing business and normal life to go back as it was before,” President Kagame said

{{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.