On April 9, 1994, the criminal government continued to implement its genocidal plan to exterminate Tutsi throughout the country. Below is a presentation of some massacres perpetrated against Tutsi that happened on April 9, 1994.

1.The french operation Amaryllis abandoned Tutsi in the hands of the killers

One hundred and ninety (190) paratroopers are dropped off in Kigali. It was the start of the operation called Amaryllis, which was deployed between April 9 and 12, 1994. The official justification for this operation was the evacuation of the French and other foreigners. This operation took place while massacres were being systematically and massively committed in Kigali and throughout Rwandan territory. The French did not want to intervene to stop the massacres, they left several victims in front of them, who were being massacred by the FAR and the Interahamwe.

The French did not want to intervene to stop the massacres that were taking place before their eyes, especially in front of Kanombe airport, they left several victims in the hands of the killers.

Tutsis who had succeeded in getting into the trucks of French soldiers had forcibly descended at the first barrier, they were killed in front of the French soldiers.

Mixed couples between French and Rwandans are separated or left behind, European women are forced to abandon their mixed-race husbands and children. Embassy workers, mainly Tutsi, are abandoned.

Meanwhile, the French Embassy opened its doors to the family of late President Juvenal Habyarimana, members of the regime’s death squad, members of the criminal presidential circle, the Akazu said. Tutsis who tried to hang on to the gate of the French embassy were repelled and killed by the militiamen.

Employees of the Ste Agathe orphanage belonging to Agathe Kanziga, wife of the president, are evacuated, but France refuses political asylum to the children of Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, murdered two days earlier by members of the Rwandan army led by Major Bernard Ntuyahaga.

The decision to evacuate the French and other foreigners was not made after the death of President Habyarimana, or the two days that followed. French military and political officials have taken their time to analyze the situation with a view to reacting at the right time. By doing so, the French wanted to strengthen the position of the Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) in the war.

On April 9, 1994, the Habyarimana family, including Agathe Habyarimana, and several Hutu extremists who had just launched massacres against Tutsi were evacuated to the capital of the Central African Republic, Bangui, and transferred to Paris, included Felicien Kabuga and Ferdinand Nahimana.

2.Swearing in of the genocidal government composed by Hutu-Power extremists and led by Jean Kambanda

Early in the morning of April 8, 1994, Bagosora brought together leaders of political parties of the Hutu-Power tendency to form a government, all, unsurprisingly, on the side of the extremists. The composition of this government took place in the premises of the French Embassy in Rwanda.

The MRND was represented by its president Mathieu Ngirumpatse, Edouard Karemera its vice-president and Joseph Nzirorera, its secretary general; the MDR by its Hutu-Power wing leaders, Froduald Karamira, Donat Murego, the PL by, Justin Mugenzi and Agnès Ntamabyaliro. The PSD was represented by two extremists, François Ndungutse and Hyacinthe Nsengiyumva Rafiki, while the PDC was represented by Jean-Marie Vianney Sibomana, Célestin Kabanda and Gaspard Ruhumuliza.

On the recommendation of the MRND leaders, the group decided to install Dr. Théodore Sindikubwabo, as President of the Republic. Colonel Bagosora appointed Jean Kambanda to the post of Prime Minister.

This government’s sole agenda was the coordination and spread of the genocide against the Tutsi across the country. Its members have crisscrossed the country, inciting massacres, distributing weapons to militiamen, and justifying on the international scene the criminal acts that were being committed in Rwanda.

3.Tutsi were killed at the Saint Vincent de Pallotti Catholic Parish in Gikondo, in Kigali.

On April 9, 1994, Interahamwe and soldiers from the Presidential Guard killed Tutsis who had taken refuge in the Vincent de Paloti Catholic Parish in Gikondo, these refugees were about 500. Today, UN troops witnessed the massacre of Tutsi, including many children, in this church in Gikondo. Also on that date, soldiers burnt Tutsi who had taken refuge in the village of Nyakabanda II, below the Baobab hotel.

The French daily Liberation was the first foreign newspaper to qualify these killings as genocide from the pen of journalist Jean Philippe Ceppi who was in Rwanda during these bloody massacres.

4.Tutsi continued to be massacred across the country: in Kibungo, Kigali, Ruhengeri and Kibuye.

On that date Tutsi who had taken refuge on the hills of Murama, Murundi, Mwiri, Nyamirama and Kabare in the District of Kayonza, just like those who had taken refuge in the Catholic Parish of Kabuye in Sector Jabana, District of Gasabo, been massacred.

Interahamwe killed Tutsi in Nyagatare I Sector in Nyagatare District, as did those who had taken refuge in Zaza, in Kibungo, where since April 9, 1994, the massacres continued, and from 500 to 800 Tutsi perished.

Since April 9, 1994, Interahamwe began the massacre of Tutsis who had taken refuge in Kiramuruzi, in Gatsibo District, as well as those who had taken refuge on Nyamagumba hill in Mabanza Commune, Kibuye Prefecture. In the days that followed, more than 12,000 Tutsi were killed.

On the same day, Tutsis who had taken refuge in Nyabikenke, at the office of the former Karama Sector in the Bumbogo region, were also killed, as in several other localities, such as in Cyabingo, in Ruhengeri Prefecture, at the Rusiza Baptist Church in Kabumba, in Gisenyi Prefecture, in and around Nyundo Church, as well as in Nyundo Maternity Hospital in Gisenyi Prefecture, currently in Rubavu District.

In the locality of Kivuruga in Cyabingo commune, there were very many soldiers who arrested the Tutsi to prevent them from fleeing. Tutsis were killed both at this barrier and in Cyabingo and Busengo. The Interahamwe who had just killed them continued towards Mukinga, on the asphalt road, armed with the hands of the Tutsi whom they had cut after having massacred them; before going to Rwaza, in the former Ruhondo Commune, to go kill others.

The massacres of Tutsi continued throughout the country, with the same methods, all Tutsi had to die, many of them were killed even while trying to flee. On this date many Tutsi were killed in places of prayer and churches because people believed to find a safe refuge there.

By Dr BIZIMANA Jean Damascène,

Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the fight against genocide