By BIZIMANA Jean Damascène*
On April 17, 1994, the criminal government continued to implement its genocidal plan to exterminate Tutsi throughout the country. The National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) continues to recall the highlights of implementation of genocide on a daily basis. This document highlights how it happened on April 17, 1994 across the country.
1. The criminal government inaugurated new prefects to speed up the implementation of Genocide throughout prefectures.
On April 17, 1994, the criminal government held a meeting in which some prefects were replaced by others considered as serial killers who would speed up the implementation of genocide in their respective prefectures. This is the reason why Jean-Baptiste Habyalimana, the former Butare Prefect and Godefroid Ruzindana of Kibungo were substituted and were later on wiped out together with their families. New extremist Prefects from Hutu-Power were inaugurated. Those included François Karera for Kigali Ngari, Sylvain Nsabimana for Butare, Anaclet Rudakubana for Kibungo, Elie Nyirimbibi for Byumba, Basile Nsabumugisha for Ruhengeri and Dr Charles Zirimwabagabo for Gisenyi.
François Karera was convicted of Genocide crime by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and was sentenced for life imprisonment while Sylvain Nsabimana was sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment and Dr. Charles Zirimwabagabo was tried by Rwanda courts and sentenced for life imprisonment. Others are fugitives and under international arrest warrant.
2. Massacre of Tutsi at Muhima mass grave near Rugenge Cell (CND) and in Kigali Sector at Kitabi Centre
Many Tutsi were killed at the mass grave in Muhima near Rugenge Cell. This mass grave was named after Inkotanyi who were living in CND and it accommodated all Tutsis from Kimihurura, Kimicanga and those around Muhima who were not taken to Sainte Famille church and Saint Paul centre. In addition, bodies of those killed at Centre pastoral Saint Paul and JOC (Jeunesse Ouvriere catholique) were also taken to Muhima mass grave.
Between April 15 and 17, 1994, RUBAYIZA HASSANI; the chief and KIBUYE KARUNGU had established a roadblock in Kitabi centre near Mont Kigali and Military camp. They killed many Tutsi there who were coming from Mwendo, Kigali, Kabusunzu, the upper Nyamirambo area as well as those from kitabi and they were thrown in the mining pits nearby. Interahamwe were backed by the army to kill all Tutsis.
3. Massacre of Tutsi at the home of Calcutta sisters below Ste Famille catholic church
A number of Tutsis had taken refuge at the home of Calcutta sisters below Ste Famille catholic church. Interahamwe descended them towards the so called CND mass grave at Muhima whereas women and children were killed at Calcutta’s. These Interahamwe attacks were headed by NYIRABAGENZI Odette (Conseiller of Rugenge sector) and Angeline MUKANDUTIYE (The Inspector of Nyarugenge Schools) and the Latter also supplied guns to Interahamwe and her home was called “etat major”. After the Genocide, Angeline Mukandutiye exiled to Zaire (Current Democratic Republic of Congo) and came back end of 2019 and was handed over to Mageragere Prison to serve Gacaca sentence of life imprisonment that she was assigned to her in absentia. All the Tutsis corpse thrown in CND mass grave at Muhima were later exhumed and buried in dignity at Kigali Genocide Memorial (Gisozi). The leading Interahamwe included NKESHIMANA a.k.a GIKONGORO, GATARI Fidele, BUGONDO, RWAGATERA Faustin who escorted Tutsis to the mass grave.
4. Massacre of Tutsi at CHUK Hospital
On April 17, 1994, many Tutsis including patients, those who cared for patients and those who had taken refuge at CHUK were massacred there. Most of the Hospital staff were characterized by genocide ideology and hatred. Towards the end of 1993, Doctors were supplied with guns allegedly for their own protection. Dr KANYANGABO Faustin, the former Director of the Hospital allowed armed soldiers to reside at the hospital saying that it is for security purposes.
In April 1994, the soldiers led by Ndagijimana Frederic also called Kamashini started the census of Tutsi to avoid killing Hutus mistakenly. Interahamwe were camping near the hospital waiting to kill all Tutsis thrown out by the doctors.
NTEZIRYAYO Benoit, Edithe MUKAKABERA (the nurse) and Maternity manager worked with the soldier, KAMASHINI Pierre to check patients’ ethnic group through their IDs throughout the night. After checking, Hutus were given their IDs back. As for Tutsis, their IDs were kept by the nurse Edithe and discharged them immediately on grounds that no disease was found. They were killed by Interahamwe near the hospital on the spot.
Most of them were killed on April 17, 1994. Doctors, nurses and hospital staff who took part in killing Tutsis at CHUK hospital were Dr Ntezayabo Benoit (was sentenced by Nyarugenge Gacaca court in absentia for 30 years of imprisonment). Dr Habyarimana Theoneste who was sentenced by Rugenge Gacaca court in absentia for special life imprisonment after being convicted of Genocide crimes including raping and killing Marie Jeanne Mukarango and killing Murwanyashyaka Antoine on May 12, 1994 and establishing roadblocks to kill Tutsis.
Dr Augustin Cyimana carried out Genocide atCHUK and continued in Ntongwe where he helped Martin Ndamage the Mayor of Mugina. After the Genocide, he fled to Zambia and was a founder and a leader of FDLR in Zambia. He first worked in Lusaka Hospital. Additionally, Dr Ernest Muvunandinda, Dr Laurent Ruboneza and Dr Buvenge Gerard also carried out genocide.
Among the nurses we noted: Ndayambaje Stefaniya from Gihinga /Rutsiro District, she was a nurse and the chief of staff at CHUK. She took part in the killing of her Tutsis colleagues at CHUK as well as teachers of Lycee Notre Dame des Citeaux school. She collaborated with the soldiers at the entrance by giving them a list of Tutsis to be killed. She was convicted by Gacaca with the following crimes: preparation of Tutsis list, torturing Tutsis, participating in the attacks to kill Tutsis in CHUK and causing the killing of a lady who was left in CHUK by the sisters. On June 21, 2008, Kiyovu Gacaca court convicted her with a sentence of 30 years.
Bananeza Marie Josee: from Bulinga commune former Gitarama. She caused the death of many Tutsis patients, CHUK staff and those who had taken refuge at CHUK. Edith Mukakabera, Philomene Mukandamage from Byumba and Marie Josee Bananeza were in charge of crossing patients’ beds asking for IDs and consequently preparing a list of Tutsis which they handed over to the military led by Kamashini, the serial killer.
Josephine Mukaruhungo: from Kibilira. She exterminated many Tutsis including a teacher called Edith and her children as well as the kids of Kamatari in Kivugiza. She participated in the genocide preparatory meetings held at Gaspard Nsengiyumva’s (the serial killer)place inKivugiza. In 1990, she took part in imprisoning her Tutsi colleagues on grounds that they were inkotanyi’s accomplices.
5. Massacre of Tutsi at CARAES Ndera/Gasabo
In 1994, Many Tutsis from Ndera, Rubungo, Jurwe, Murindi, Gasogi, Kanombe and Remera took refuge at CARAES Ndera centre hoping to be safe because it was for religious people. They flew to the centre from April 8 to 10, 1994 and on April 10, Interahamwe started to attack them from outside of the fence but they could not kill many as they also tried to fight back using their traditional weapons.
On April 11, 1994, Belgian soldiers came to fetch Belgian Religious Brothers and patients as well as their dogs. After realising that all the white religious were gone, Interahamwe continued to attack them and their resistance went on. Interahamwe decided to call soldiers from Kanombe Military camp on April 17, 1994. When they arrived, the fence was immediately demolished and started throwing grenades while getting them outside. After realising that many Tutsis were killed, they left Interahamwe to finish them off and went back. They also killed all Tutsis like patients in the hospital. Approximately 3500 Tutsis were killed at CARAES.
Some of Habyarimana’s high ranking soldiers inhabited on the hill of Ndera and they sensitised citizens to kill Tutsis even before the genocide. Additionally, higher authorities like Mbonampeka Stanislas (former Minister of justice), the Mayor of Rubungo commune, Rurenganganizi Valens, Father Gakuba Déo the head priest of Ndera Parish among others lived in Ndera and took part in the killing of Tutsis who had taken refuge at Petit Seminaire de Ndera.
6. Massacre of Tutsi in Munini, Nyaruguru, Gikongoro
All the killings that took place in the former Munini sub-prefecture which was composed of Mubuga, Rwamiko, Kivu and Nshili communes were masterminded by the former sous-prefet Damian Biniga.
On April 11, 1994, the sous-prefet BINIGA and the Mayor of Mubuga commune NYIRIDANDI Charles held a meeting with those who had attended Monday market in Munini commercial centre and told them to kill Tutsis and to burn their houses. From then, Tutsis were encouraged by the leaders of Kibirizi, Gisizi and Gasave sectors to seek refuge at Munini sub prefecture where they were told they would be protected. Those who tried to go to Burundi were diverted at sub prefecture by kibirizi the councillor. Others who fled there were from Rwamiko and Kivu communes close to Mubuga.
On April 12, gendarmes were sent in Tutsis households to ascertain that they had all moved to the sous-prefecture, whoever found was not killed rather taken at Munini. Arriving there, they lived a miserable life, dying with thirsty because all water pipes were cut. They wanted to flee to Burundi and when they were approaching the border, Nshili mayor Kadogi sent Interahamwe to bring them back. They gathered them at a place called “giti cy’urubanza”, surrounded them and killed them with traditional weapons, grenades and machetes.
Between April 16 and 17, 1994, Hutus who lived in Munini in collaboration with local Interahamwe and those who killed Tutsi in Kibeho and Cyahinda, killed those who had taken refuge at Munini Sous- prefecture. The killing at Munini was led by BINIGA (sous-prefet), Charles NYIRIDANDI (the Mayor of Mubuga commune), the councillor of Kibirizi, Ndahayo Athanase, Ntidendereza of Gisizi, that of Gasave among others.
7. Tutsi massacred in Rwamatamu commune, Nyamasheke, Cyangugu
Rwamatamu was one of Kibuye communes which harboured many Tutsis. From April 7, 1994, Interahamwe attacks started to invade their homes. On April 17, 1994 Interahamwe attack at Rwamatamu commune exterminated Tutsis who had taken refuge there. All possible torturing acts like killing children, raping women and girls and then wounding their private parts with long and sharp sticks. The killing was carried out by soldiers and Interahamwe led by Obed Ruzindana who was convicted of genocide crime by TPIR and sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment.
8. Massacre of Tutsi at Bweyeye, Rusizi, Cyangugu
Bweyeye is surrounded by Nyungwe forest close to Burundi separated by Ruhwa river. Approximately 28 Tutsi were killed at ADEPR-Kiyabo. From April 8, 1994, Tutsi were told that they killed Habyarimana and that they must pay for it, that is when they flew to Bweyeye where they prayed day and night. In the night of April 12,1994, Interahamwe attacked them and they screamed a lot to the extent that a gendarme fired in the air and interahamwe backed off after killing 2 Tutsis. NYIRINKINDI Augustin and MUKAKARERA Petronile whom they took behind the church and raped her one by one before chopping her with a machete. She wasn’t dead that night however, she was taken at the hospital but was killed some other time.
On April 17, 1994 around 9 am, a tough attack came to kill them and left no one. Before they were killed, the Responsable of Kiyabo cell NTAWUTAZAMUTORA Philippe together with MAJYAMBERE Juvenal (a Soldier from Bweyeye who was on official leave) held a preparatory meeting in a bar to kill them. Next day, Interahamwe from Bweyeye led by AYOBAHORANA Jonas a.k.a GISANGANI (a second hand business man who also had gone for military courses) chopped everyone.
9. Massacre of Tutsis at Kayonza, Nyamirama Sector, Ruramira water pool and Kabazeyi – Rwamagana, Kibungo
From April 9 to 17,1994, between 2500 and 3000 Tutsis from Nyamirama, Ruramira and Nyarusange (Rwamagana) were thrown in the barrage located between Nyamirama sector and Ruramira. At the barrage, Interahamwe from all above mentioned sectors were present to distinguish their Tutsis neighbours and throw them in the barrage. Many Tutsis were also killed in Munyaga sector, inside Kabazeyi government owned forest between April 12 and 13, 1994, Over 50 Tutsis were gathered there and were killed under the command of the Director of Rweru Primary School Rusine Jean Bosco. On April 17, 1994, between 300 and 400 Tutsis were killed at Kaduha sector using bows and arrows, machetes, clubs with nails among other weapons.
Conclusion
The mass killing of Tutsis continued across the country, implemented in the same way, which means that whoever called a Tutsi was killed. Most of them were killed while fleeing. On April 17, 1994, most Tutsis were killed in administrative buildings, communes and in the churches where they mistakenly thought they would survive. (End).
* BIZIMANA Jean Damascène, Executive Secretary National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG)