April 12, 1994: The implementation of the Genocide perpetrated against Tutsi throughout the country

On April 12, 1994, the criminal government continued to implement its genocidal plan to exterminate Tutsi throughout the country. As part of remembering the victims of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) continues to recall the history of this Genocide, how it was implemented on a daily basis, and ci -after how he was executed across the country on April 12, 1994.

1. Fridouald Karamira and MDR-Power called on all Hutu extremists to exterminate the Tutsi

Speaking on Radio Rwanda early on the morning of April 12, MDR-Power leader Frodauld Karamira told his listeners that the war was “everyone’s responsibility,” an idea that would be repeated frequently in the next few weeks. He called Hutu to “not fight among themselves” but rather to “assist the armed forces to finish their work.” This was a directive to the MDR-Power supporters to forget their differences with the MRND and the CDR and to collaborate with them in tracking Tutsi. Without this collaboration, advocated by Karamira since his “Hutu Power” speech the previous October, the genocide would have remained limited to strongholds of the MRND and the CDR.

The same day, Radio Rwanda broadcast a press release from the Ministry of Defense. It denied “lies” about divisions in the armed forces and among Hutu generally and insisted that:

Soldiers, gendarmes [National Police], and all Rwandans have decided to fight their common enemy in unison and all have identified him. The enemy is still the same. He is the one who has always been trying to return the monarch who was overthrown....the Ministry of Defence asks Rwandans, soldiers and gendarmes the following: citizens are asked to act together, carry out patrols and fight the enemy.

The genocidal government leaves Kigali and settles in Gitarama where it continues to coordinate the extermination of the Tutsi in all prefectures.

2. In Kigali, corpses are thrown into dumpsters by prisoners and dumped in trenches dug by bulldozers.

On the 12th April 1994, General Dallaire learns from UN military observers that massacres were underway in Gisenyi and Kibungo. He reports that in Kigali, corpses were thrown into dumpsters by prisoners and dumped in trenches dug by bulldozers.These dumpsters were from the service of bridges and roads of the Ministry of Public Works (MINITRAPE) under the responsibility of Ntirivamunda Alphonse the son-in-law of President Juvenal Habyarimana. He fled to Belgium.

3. United Nations Secretary-General Boutros-Ghali proposes withdrawal of UNAMIR at the beggining of the genocide

In Bonn, W. Claes, Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs, told Boutros Boutros-Ghali: “UNAMIR has become usless. [...] UNAMIR is in danger. [...] There is an anti-Belgian climate. ” He proposed "the suspension and withdrawal of UNAMIR." Boutros-Ghali replied: "I share your analysis. " Until then, the United Nations has consistently refused to strengthen the mandate of UNAMIR despite relentless appeals from General Dallaire.

Boutros-Boutros Ghali was out of his office in the United States all the while, continuing his travels abroad despite alarming reports from UNAMIR reporting several deaths since 7/4/1994.

4. The Tutsi were massacred in Nyawera and Mukarange, Kayonza 

In Nyawera, in the Mukarange sector, Kayonza District, the dates of 11-12/04/1994 were committed with extremely cruel killings. The Interahamwe killed a mother named Murebwayire who was pregnant, disemboweled her with a machete and removed the infant and burned them.

At the Catholic parish of Mukarange, on 07/09/04/1994 the Tutsi fled in large numbers. On 10-11 / 04/1994, the killings started and they resisted with stones and hoes, stones but the Interahamwe got the upper hand because they were supported by the gendarmes and the soldiers. On 04/12/1994, on a list of those who had just been killed, they forced those who were still alive to go out, promising to spare them. When they arrived in front of the parish, they were immediately killed, the Interahamwe cut them into pieces by machetes.

The parish priest Joseph Gatare, who also ran the secondary school in Mukarange, Tutsi, was killed. His deputy, Abbé Munyaneza Jean Bosco, Hutu was between the killers and the Tutsi refugees, the Interahamwe killed him. The group of the militias Interahamwe who was in charge of the killings included: Senkware Célestin (bourgmestre), Kanyangoga Thomas (businessman), Ngabonzima Augustin (diplomate) and his son Ngabonzima Jean Claude (teacher), Lieutenant gendarme Twahirwa, Sgt Nsengiyumva Edouard, Kayisabe Côme (teacher), Nsabimana alias Kiyoni (primary school inspector), Simparikubwabo alias Simba (teacher), Mutaganzwa (businessman), Gashumba Samson (conseiller Mukarange), Kanyogote Nsabimana (conseiller Nyagatovu), Rudasingwa (director of CERAI Mukarange), Tuyishime Joseph (teacher CERAI Mukarange), Mugenzi (former director CERAI Mukarange), Gahigi Samuel (teacher), Gafaranga (teacher), Kanyanzira (businesman), Rwabagabo (brigadier), Rwayihuku (former soldier), Ndakaza Ignace, Migabo (teacher), etc.

5. Massacres of Tutsi in the Nyabitekeri Sector, where the former Mukoma Sector office was located, Nyamasheke, Cyangugu

Many Tutsi were killed in the Nyabitekeri Sector at the location of the office of the former Mukoma Sector (Mariba). These Tutsi were killed on April 12, 1994, forced to leave their homes to participate in the so called security meeting to which all Tutsi men were invited. They left at 8 am and asked the women and children to all take refuge in the Seventh-day Adventist church; since April 10, 1994, all families spent their nights in this church trying to keep them safe, men spent their nights watching to prevent any attack to which they would respond, while women and children rested.

When they arrived at the supposed meeting place, the Tutsi men noticed that there was no meeting but that Interahamwe armed with traditional weapons were waiting for them to kill them. The Councilor by the name of Kanyarurembo Joseph asked them to enter the old sector office where they were locked up, after which the killers wanted to set this office on fire with its occupants; but apparently the petrol in their possession was of poor quality and did not want to burn. Councilor Kanyarurembo then asked a military reservist named Torero Theodore to throw a grenade in the building. 

He threw 2 grenades after which they opened the doors and killed the stabbing weapon that wanted to escape and finished those who were still breathing. More than 400 Tutsi men were massacred.

The same day there were masscares with Karemera Claver, who lived in the Nyabitekeri Sector in the Nyamasheke District, Mukoma Cell. Several who had taken refuge were killed by the PIMA killers, who then went on to massacre those who had taken refuge in the Adventist church.

6. Massacres of Tutsi in Ngoma, Bushekeri Sector, Nyamasheke

It was on the main road from Kinini to Ngoma primary school, in Bushekeri Sector, Nyamasheke District. During the Genocide there was a barrier and a quarry over 15 m deep. The Tutsi of this sector, currently Cell Nyarusange, were all gathered and brought to be killed in Mugina after the Prefect Bagambiki Emmanuel went around Cyangugu to ask the Hutu to start killing. From 12 to 18 April 1994, those who were killed came from the Ngoma sector, especially from the Keshero cell, which was inhabited by many Tutsis. They were surrounded and taken to the barrier where they were immediately killed. Among the Interahamwe responsible for these massacres are Mazera, Ndayishimiye Emmanuel, Bazambanza and others.

The Tutsi perished in excruciating pain; the men had their genitals and their arms cut with a machete, some of them were enucleated, the women were first raped while the young children were taken from their mothers to be thrown alive in the pit pit, so that night and day we could hear the screams and tears of these children.

7. The Bourgmestre FURERE Abel of Commune Rwamatamu kills Tutsis in Rwamatamu, Gihombo sector, Kibuye

The former Rwamatamu Commune, in Kibuye Prefecture, is one of the communes populated by many Tutsi who owned a lot of property. In 1994, this commune had as mayor FURERE Abel.

On April 12, 1994, a meeting was held at the Rwamatamu Commune which began at 10 a.m. and ended at 1.20 p.m. The Councilors, Hutu agents from the Commune, important Hutu traders and leaders of the Interahamwe participated. 

At the end of the meeting, the Councilors went to reassure the Tutsi refugees by telling them that peace has returned and that they should therefore return home. But some time after the Tutsi who had taken refuge in the Parish of Kibingo began to be killed, and a vehicle carrying soldiers and Interahamwe arrived at the commune; these Interahamwe were led by Ruzindana Obed, an important trader in Mugonero, who had taken care to sabotage the telephone line of the commune so that the Tutsi could not call in reinforcement theirs or warn the international community which would thus learn what is happening. Shots began to be heard. 

On April 12, 1994, despite Tutsi resistance, more than 250 Tutsi were killed, including those who were in the commune and many children and women who had taken refuge in the church.  Ruzindana Obed was found guilty of genocide and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

From 7 to 12 April 1994, the killers who massacred the Tutsi were led by Kayishema André, teacher, Ntaganzwa Charles, Ruhumuriza Celestin, former soldier, Ruzindana Obed, the reservist Gikeri, the Interahamwe Murego and Murwanashyaka. But on April 12, 1994, other Interahamwe joined the killers including: Kibati Jean Paul, the reservist Nsonera Christophe, Bimenyimana and many others.

8. Tutsi were massacred in Buharabuge, Rugarika in the Kamonyi district

In Biharabuge, in the village of Kigarama, Sheri Cell, Rugarika Sector, Kamonyi District, were killed the Tutsi who lived in this village, and those who had fled since 07 Mata 1994 from Kigese and who were in friendly families from Sheri.

There was a meeting at the Runda commune chaired by Bourgestre Sixbert, in which the sector councilors and cell leaders participated and told them to tell the Tutsi that they are the ones being sought, and to tell the Hutu to no longer help the Tutsi.

The Tutsi were gathered in the center of Biharabuge, the Interahamwe sorted out those they wanted to kill. They accompanied them, they killed whoever they wanted and raped those they wanted.

Others Interahamwe came from Gatsata and held a barrier at Rwabashyashya and led by SHARANGABO from Rugarika. He had a vehicle overtaking the Interahamwe who was going to kill in every corner. They brought them to Biharabuge, forced them to sit in the Cyingumba forest, and forced them to lie down, and massacred them with clubs, machetes, hoes and other traditional weapons. They were around 1,000 Tutsi.

The killings began around 1 p.m. until 7 p.m.

After the massacre they took their clothes off, after a vehicle loaded all the bodies, including those who were still alive and threw them into a pond which would be a watering place for cows, called Cyabariza.

The massacre officials were bourgmestre Ndayambaje Sixbert, assistant Burgmestre Habyarimana Vivien, a teacher Uwimana Pelage, Joseph Setiba and others Interahamwe.

9. Tutsi from Runda were thrown into the Nyabarongo river

The secters who touch the Nyabarongo in the Kamonyi dictrict had many passages which the Intrahamwe used to go and throw the Tutsi in the Nyabarongo. The most well known site is Ruramba. Throwing the Tutsi into Nyabarongo was done from 12/4/1994 until the end of June 1994.

On 12/4/1994 the Tutsi who had taken refuge at the Kigese health center were brought to Nyabarongo and drowned them. This continued in the following days, those who were discovered were all drowned, sometimes after a very long journey of more than 3 hours. Along the way they were beaten, accompanied by shouts and insults. Some were drowned alive, threw stones at them, others were cut out on the banks of the river and thrown into the river.

10. The massacre of Tutsi from Kabuga, Bumbogo sector, Gasabo

Since April 10-11, 1994, Tutsi who lived in different corners of the Bumbogo sector, at Kabuga de Nyabikenke, where the Karama sector office was located, have been killed over (4500). Those who were killed were people who came from Bumbogo, Kanombe, Musave, Kimironko and Ndera, they had fled the country because they had been told that they could be welcomed in the Karama sector. They arrived since 10 - 11/04/1994.

On 12/4/1994, came those from Gishaka and those from Nkuzuzu; in the evening, a gendarme by the name of Emmanuel brought grenades on a motorbike, he also had Tadeyo's vehicle which was a renowned Interahamwe, who brought machetes which had just been used in the massacres of the church from Gishaka, he also led the Interahamwe, mainly war displacements from Kivuye to Byumba, those who were called the Bakonya originating in Ruhengeri who lived in Rubungo, and other militiamen from Bumbogo including Mutaganira, Muyoboke Augustin, Karangwa Theophile and Rwabutogo. They were the ones who killed the Tutsi from the evening of the 12th until the morning of the 13th.

11. The massacre of Tutsi from Musenyi in Bugesera and Muhura in Gatsibo

In Musenyi in Bugesera, after Habyarimana's death, the Tutsi were attacked at the destroyed houses. The head of the Kagusa cell, Karangwa told the Tutsi that those who are not going to flee to his house, if they are killed, it is not his business. Over 500 Tutsi came to his home. Karangwa had planned how to kill them, he called killers at his home. Few of the Tutsis who remained in Kagusa began to flee to Nyamata, but several were killed on the way and never arrived. A sign in memory of the victims was erected on the site of the massacre at Karangwa.

In the Remera sector, Rwarenga Cell, in the former Muhura commune run by Ndayishimiye, from 07/04/1994 until 12/04/1994, Tutsi were killed, around 252 are buried in the erected memorial site over there.

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.

Dr Bizimana Jean Damascène

Executive Secretary

National Commission to Combat Genocide, CNLG