On April 13, 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 below how it was executed across the country on April 13, 1994.

1.The massacres at Collège Saint André in Nyamirambo

In the Nyamirambo Sector at St André College and Charles Lwanga Church, many Tutsi were killed during the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994, these Tutsi had come from Butamwa, Nyamirambo (Kivugiza, Mumena), Nyakabanda, Rwezamenyo, Kabusunzu, Nyarugenge (Biryogo)… The Tutsi were distributed to the church, the college and the St Joseph convent of the Josephite brothers which is located in Nyamirambo.

At Charles Lwanga the Tutsi who were killed there were less numerous than those who were at St André college, but these were even less numerous than those who were killed at St Joseph; the Tutsi had learned that there were many Tutsi refugees at St Joseph and that they were well assisted by the Josephite brothers, and they did everything they could to take refuge there, believing that they could survive there. After having killed the few Tutsis at St André college and Charles Lwanga church, the killers rushed to St Joseph convent and exterminated the Tutsis who were there, without forgetting that they also killed Josephite brothers who refused to allow the Tutsi to be put to death.

Some of the survivors claim that there were more than 2,000 refugees, because after the carnage the corpses were very numerous and piled on top of each other.

2.The massacres of Tutsi in Kanyinya, Nyarugenge Commune

In 1994, in the Kanyinya Sector, many Tutsi, from the locality and others from the Jali Sector, Gasabo District, who had taken refuge there, were killed. Councilor Nzabamwita Joseph asked them to call everyone else to keep them safe. On April 13, 1994, after noting that no other Tutsi were to come, the Counselor told them that he was going to look for gendarmes who would protect them at a place where they would be gathered for this purpose. They were told that they were going to be brought to the place called Kana located between the hills and which was supposed to be unknown to the Interahamwe. They were brought there, and upon arrival they were asked to wait for the supplies that were to arrive. But in the evening it was the Interahamwe who arrived and killed them with traditional weapons overnight. Soldiers stationed themselves in the surrounding hills to shoot anyone who tried to escape. The Tutsi were all killed, apart from 4 children who survived, lying next to their parents, they were covered in blood and passed for dead.

3.The massacres of Tutsi at the church of Gishaka, in Bumbogo, Kigali

In the Bumbogo Sector, Nkuzuzu Cell, many Tutsi lived before the Genocide. On the morning of April 7, 1994, the day after Habyarimana's death, the Interahamwe began to blow their whistles, a signal agreed to kill the Tutsi; these gathered on the hill of Nkuzuzu. They resisted, using stones, spears and arrow bows. Among the Interahamwe were Nyundo, Vianney, Rubanguza, Karangwa, Gashumba, Rwiyamirira Michel, Habarurema, Emile, Ruhamanya and Rwabuhihi.

The Tutsi have resisted since the evening of April 7, 1994. The Interahamwe, having noted on April 12, 1994 that they were in danger of being defeated, called to the rescue the soldiers of Habyarimana who, on April 13, 1994, attacked and killed the Tutsi with guns, it was for them the most fatal day.

The few survivors went to take refuge in the Gishaka Parish, where Father Michel, who was white, welcomed them and gathered them with other Tutsis who, coming from Rutunga, Rubungo, Nduba and Jurwe in Ndera, had taken refuge in the church.

The priest sought them supplies and began to pray for their souls since the night of April 13, 1994. The next day, April 14, 1994, the Interahamwe attacked them, among them there were the police officers from Gikomero Commune, including Nyarwaya Michel, Brigadier of the municipal police, Rubanguka Mathias, accountant of the Gikomero Commune, Rusatsi, doctor at the Gishaka Health Center, the fearsome Interahamwe Sevara. All of them collaborated with Rutaganira Telesphore, Mayor of the Gikomero Commune and the police officers of this commune.

4.The massacres of Tutsi at the Catholic Church in Musha, Kigali

On April 12-13, 1994, over 8,000 Tutsi were killed in the Parish of the Catholic Church in Musha. At the head of the killers, there were in particular Bisengimana Paul, Mayor of the Gikoro Commune and head of militias Interahamwe, Mukemba, driver in the commune and Makombe, in charge of youth. The Interahamwe first attacked women and girls and molested them, raped them, under the eyes of their parents, and some of them were brought to the bottom of the quarries for to be killed there. The Tutsi who had taken refuge in the church were thus exterminated.

5.The massacres of Tutsi in Muhororo, Kibilira, Ngororero

In the former Kibirira Commune, there was a test of the genocide before April 1994, especially in 1992 after the speech of Dr Mugesera Leon in Kabaya in a meeting of the MRND; many Tutsi were killed, among them those who lived in the Communes of Ramba and Gaseke in Ndaro. Even before this speech in Kibirira there were massacres of many Tutsi between 11 and 13 October 1990, massacres which were repeated in January 1993, in the Giciye, Satinskyi, Ramba, Kanama, Kayama and Kibilira Communes, in the old Gisenyi Prefecture.

Some were thrown into the Nyabarongo river at the place called Cyome, in Gatumba, among those who were killed at Muhororo hospital, in Kibirira there were sick people, doctors and other employees of the hospital, while among those who were killed in the homes of the religious there were sisters and priests.

Some of the Tutsi in Kibirira were locked up in the premises of the IGA population training center in Gatumba, located near the Gatumba Sector; the killers wanted to burn them alive but the Tutsi broke the window panes and were able to escape.

The meetings planning the massacres took place in the offices of the Ramba and Kibirira Communes, in those of the political parties MRND, CDR and MDR, in the office of the district inspector and elsewhere in the homes of local authorities, as well as in the Bar Ituze located near the former Kibirira Commune, which was managed by Abishuka Charles and belonged to Rwanyagatare.

At the church of Muhororo were killed nuns and priests, even if the religious of the community of the sisters of Muhororo first resisted before succumbing to the firearms which notably brought the Brigadier of the Commune Kibirira , Mutabaruka, alias Libenge, while others were distributed by Hondero, Rwanyagatare and Dusabemungu alias who resided in the center of Rusumo / Gatumba

6.The massacres of Tutsi at the Catholic church of Rukara, Kayonza

At the church of Rukara, near Gahini, many Tutsi took refuge, coming from different localities before they were all killed. 12 of them were killed first while fighting against the Interahamwe who wanted to take over their cattle herd. The Interahamwe then seized all of the refugees' property before massacring them on April 13, 1994.

The massacres were coordinated by Mpambara Jean, Mayor of the Rukara Commune, and by the Interahamwe from Murambi and led by Gatete Jean Baptiste.

Even if Jean Mpambara was acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the survivors affirm that he was at the head of the massacres and that he collaborated closely with Minister Justin Mugenzi, himself from Gahini. Mpambara was seen among the defense witnesses of Ngenzi Octavien and Tito Barahira during their trial in France, they led the implementation of the Genocide in Kabarondo and were sentenced to life imprisonment by the Paris Court.

7.The massacres of Tutsi at Ruharambuga, Nyamasheke

The Interahamwe of Rukoma led by Gasarasi Wellars surrounded on April 13, 1994 more than 60 Tutsi, gathered them at Nyirandimubenshi Astérie where they massacred them. After having had these Tutsi killed, Gasarasi reunited the Interahamwe, thanked them for what they had just accomplished, authorized them to seize the property of the Tutsi, and urged them to continue to chase any Tutsi wherever he is located.

In Sector Ruharambuga I, in Kigabiro Cell, 41 Tutsi children were abducted from their parents, on the pretext of driving them away to protect them, but others were taken by force; all were brought to a large pit dug by Hutu extremists near the Nyungwe forest at a place called Gasarabuye, a pit into which the children were thrown alive and then burned alive with dry herbs which were dumped on them; large stones were then thrown at the children to finish off those who were still breathing.

8.The massacres of Tutsi in Nyakanyinya, Mururu, Rusizi

In the Mururu Sector, in Nyakanyinya, there was a school and a branch of the Catholic church with which Tutsis in the region had been used to taking refuge since 1959.

On April 13, 1994, the Tutsi who had already taken refuge in Nyakanyinya were identified by the named Patrice, son of Gatukura, and there were nearly 800. Their cattle herd had been confiscated by Councilor Harerimana Jean Bosco, Sendege and other Interahamwe accompanying them.

Killers including many Interahamwe who came from Mururu, Nyakanyinya and Miko, and gendarmes who came from Gihundwe, gathered at the place called Hangari, and attacked the refugees in Nyakanyinya. They began to kill them mercilessly, using grenades, firearms and traditional weapons, the refugees had indeed already been previously surrounded by very many Interahamwe, and the weapons which they carried with them had been seized.

The women and children had taken refuge in the school and the church which was there, the Interahamwe went up on the roof, removed tiles and threw fire inside so that the Tutsis who hiding out there, to kill them better. As these did not come out enough for their taste, the killers sent a swarm of bees inside which sowed panic among the refugees, most of whom were then killed; the women and children who had taken refuge in the church were burned alive. The Interahamwe profaned the bodies of their victims, thus the Interahamwe raped the lifeless bodies of Tutsi women and girls they had just killed. For example, after having killed a teacher named Thacienne in the worst suffering, they raped her on the pretext that she had in the past refused to have sex with them.

9.The massacres of Tutsi in Kirinda, Karongi

Kirinda is located in the former Bwakira Commune in Kibuye Prefecture, currently in Murambi Sector in Karongi District. There was a hospital and the national headquarters of the EPR church. During this one the Mayor of the Bwakira Commune was Kabasha Tharcisse. During the Genocide, many Tutsi took refuge in Kirinda secondary school, others in Kirinda hospital. They had been promised that their safety would be assured, but after they were killed, their bodies were thrown into the Nyabarongo river.

Among those responsible for these massacres is Nyiringabo Amani and in particular the trader Semirindi Moise who notably supplied machetes and whose vehicles were used to transport the bodies to the Nyabarongo river.

In Kirinda there was a most formidable barrier called "Intebe y’urupfu" or "the chair of death", where many Tutsi were killed.

The outbreak of the Genocide coincided with a meeting in Kirinda of EPR pastors at the national level, and pastors who participated in it were killed with their families. One of the instigators of these massacres was the national leader of the EPR, Pastor Twagirayezu Michel.

10.The massacres of Tutsi at the “Chapelle” of Gitwa, Rutsiro

During the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi, many Tutsi took refuge in the Catholic “Chapelle” of Gitwa and were massacred there. The place was called Gitwa but changed its name to Nyamagumba, in the old Bugina Cell, Kibingo Sector, Mabanza Commune, Kibuye Prefecture. This “Chapelle” was affiliated with the Catholic Parish of Congo Nile led by a French priest by the name of Maindron Gabriel who had his responsibilities in the implementation of the Genocide.

Gitwa was inhabited by many Catholic Tutsis, which is why they took refuge in the Gitwa “Chapelle”, believing that they would be protected there, but the opposite happened. Another reason was that the chapel was located high up, which should allow to see groups of killers by law and prepare to resist if necessary.

The Tutsi who took refuge in the Gitwa “Chapelle” had arrived from different localities including Gitwa, Gitarama Cell, Buhoro, Ruhingo, and Kabiraho from Mabanza Commune but also from elsewhere ‘

Dupuis on April 11, 1994 until April 13, 1994, the Gitwa “Chapelle” was attacked, and at the Mayor of the Commune Mabanza Bagirishema Ignace who went to meet the Tutsi refugees, they told him that they were going to Gitwa Chapel, after which Bagirishema exclaimed: “They took refuge at the top of Nyamagumba hill! “referring to another hill in Ruhengeri on which the Tutsi had been regularly massacred since 1959. The place has now took the name of Nyamagumba, and even today some people continue to call it that. Witnesses claim that the bodies of more than 9,304 Tutsi who perished there lie in the Genocide memorial erected there.

The Bourgmestre Bagirishema bears great responsibility for these massacres. Among others who participated, there is Brigadier Rwamakuba Emmanuel, Hakizimana Deo who was the secretary of the Mabanza Commune, Benimana Raphael, Mayor of the Rutsiro Municipality, Maburakindi Isidore, Mayor of the Kayove Municipality and others.

11.The massacres of Tutsi at the school in Mbogo, Kinyamakara, Gikongoro

In Kinyamakara Commune, Mbogo School and on the hill of Mbogo in general, were gathered on April 13, 1994 and were massacred of many Tutsis from the former Kinyamakara Commune and others who had come from the city from Gikongoro and other places. The Kinyamakara Commune was headed by Bourgmestre Munyaneza Charles, and it was he who went to call in reinforcements for soldiers and gendarmes, including Colonel Simba, who shot and killed Tutsi refugees, in collaboration with the armed Interahamwe machetes, clubs, cutters and other hoes. On April 13, 1994, nearly 3,000 Tutsi were killed there.

Leading the killers included Brigadier of the Mugemana communal police, OPJ Munyakanyina, youth framer Gasasira Alphonse, primary school teacher Gasirabo Jonathan and others.

12.The massacres of Tutsi at the place called “Escalier”, in Muhima, Nyarugenge

From 13 to 14 April 1994, Tutsis who lived in Muhima below the old Nyarugenge prison, in the Umwezi village in the old Ruhurura cell, Interahamwe and soldiers gathered Tutsis there, brought them down to a place that was called “Squadron” where the Tutsi were cut with machetes, their heads smashed on the asphalt road or killed with a gun. A large number of Tutsi were killed there, on this road had been installed a barrier where those who crossed the paved road were arrested and killed, after which the bodies of the victims were piled up at the side of the road. So far, what has grieved the families of the victims is that these bodies have never been found for burial with dignity.

Among the Interahamwe who participated in these massacres, there is their leader, Ndemeye Nicodeme, Gashayija Etienne, Charles Rurangirwa and others.

In the Nkomangwa Cell, on April 13 and 14, 1994, very many Tutsi were thrown into Lake Muhazi, and young children were supposedly invited to go to school when in reality they were brought at Muhazi Lake.

More than 136 of them are said to have come from Munyiginya Sector while the rest, whose number is not specified, came from different localities.

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.

By Dr Bizimana Jean Damascène, 

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide, CNLG