Recalling the fierce battles of Ruhengeri

In this serialized article, Capt (rtd) Logan Ndahiro, who took part in the 1990-94 liberation struggle, gives an account of some of the fiercest battles that marked the war. In the last piece, the author revisited the surprise attack on Ruhengeri prison on January 22, 1991, during which RPA set free many political prisoners. Today, he explores some of the fiercest battles fought in the mountainous north-eastern part of the country that pitted the RPA liberation forces against the then government army, FAR. After freeing the political prisoners at Ruhengeri Prison, we retreated to the mountains along with them. Two of these prisoners became members of the High Command; while two others joined the RPF-RPA combat forces, with a few others deciding to drift away to freedom. They were free to move to wherever they wanted to take refuge because there was such flexibility and freedom of choice. On arriving back into the mountains, the Chairman of the High Command (President Paul Kagame) inspected the forces and thanked them for a well accomplished assignment despite the obstacles met. After about a week of reorganization from the Ruhengeri attack, we attacked commune Nkumba along Ruhengeri – Cyanika road. The fighting took place along the tarmac road and we engaged the Ex-FAR from 10am and by the time the guns fell silent, it was around 4 pm. This battle tested our resolve although the enemy this time put up a tough resistance. The battle was so intense that when we checked the area after the battle, a lot of vegetation had been mauled down, dead cows, dogs… anything standing had been decimated by hail of bullets. It was one of the toughest battles fought while in the mountains. As we withdrew from Nkumba, rumours had it that we had fought the elite presidential guards who had accompanied president Habyarimana who was in company of the then OAU Secretary General Salim Ahamed Salim. He had been brought to Ruhengeri to see how peaceful it was after our earlier attack. If this rumour was true, the OAU chief went back with a different impression. Ruhengeri was not yet peaceful. During the Ruhengeri and Nkumba attacks, we had collected many guns and other war materials to boost our arsenal and our number was steadily growing. All battalions were still operating under the guerilla columns of 3rd and 5th as earlier mentioned. It was at this point that the Chairman decided to re-organize the RPA column battalions into mobile forces. This could have been due to two reasons; 1. We had by now enough war equipment to arm each mobile force. 2. Our numbers were swelling each day, yet we had fewer battle hardened commanders, the best option was to have fewer, well equipped mobile forces with good commanders. The Chairman gave instructions to form the first four RPA mobile forces (Bravo, Mike, Oscar and Delta) and with this we shed off the guerilla columns. This meant that, the RPA forces were now strong enough and capable to attack the enemy even in encampments (in his defenses). Later on, Echo and Lima mobile forces joined the mountains to diversify and intensify attacks. This was around mid February 1991. After this re-organisation, between February and April 1991, the mobile forces swung into action by attacking the enemy forces. Mike and Oscar mobile forces attacked Kagano, while the Muremure attack was mounted by Delta and Bravo mobile forces. Cyanika was attacked by Bravo and Mike and an incursion into the Butaro area in Nyamucucu and Cyahafi by Mike and Oscar mobile forces in the current Burera District. All these attacks, from early February to end March 1991 disorganised enemy forces even as they continued to put up a spirited resistance. It was during February 1991 that the enemy forces shave-shelled our positions at Gahinga Mountain. The enemy used Katyushas (105mm) and 120mm mortars. So sudden, targeted and intense was the shelling that we had to quickly but tactfully find a way of minimizing our losses. This enemy shelling did not spare the headquarters of the Chairman of the High Command. It was during this shelling that I came across a young compatriot who had sustained injuries on his left leg, slightly above his knee cap and was in intense pain. On close examination, I found that the shell shrapnel had cut across his thigh bone and was bleeding profusely. I immediately removed him from danger to a better protected position from shelling. Sensing the medical intervention this young man’s injuries needed, and being alone at the time, I requested Dr Theogene Rudasingwa who was nearby to help me give this young comrade some medical first aid. Critical examination showed us that his left leg thigh bone had been completely cut by shell shrapnel and that left no option but to amputate it. We had surgical instruments to carry out this amputation. As we set to start however, still under the shelling, an emissary came from the High Command with message for Dr Rudasingwa to report to the High Command. Rudasingwa immediately stood up, threw down the surgical instruments and prepared to leave. We were only two medical personnel around with a critically injured combatant. I tried to persuade Dr Rudasingwa to stay for a while so that we can finish amputating the leg but he simply told me to “do it or leave it” and he left. Considering our own RPA medical code of conduct, which was very strict and the Oath made by medical professionals, I have never come to terms with what Dr Rudasingwa did that day. What was so urgent as to leave a critically injured fellow combatant to die? So I amputated the leg or rather what was left of it, all alone, stopped bleeding and stitched the stamp. I eventually got the patient to a makeshift sick bay with the help of other mobilized soldiers when shelling stopped. Towards the end of March and early April 1991, the enemy forces penetrated the bamboo forest and attacked us at Sabyinyo. This attack was easily beaten off by Delta mobile force stationed at Sabyinyo. All the above mentioned attacks attracted the enemy forces to concentrate in the Ruhengeri sector which gave breathing space to our forces in the Umutara sector. It was during these attacks that the Chairman of the High Command was planning for another assignment. To be continued… The writer is a retired soldier Email: ndahiro.logan@gmail.com

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Recalling the fierce battles of Ruhengeri