April 18, 1994: Interim president Sindikubwabo, Karemera incite the masses to commit genocide in rural Rwanda

On April 8, 1994, top officials in the genocidal government including then President Theodore Sindikubwabo visited some places in rural Rwanda to plan further killings and incite the masses as the genocide against the Tutsi gained momentum. On that day, Sindikubwabo visited the former Gikongoro Prefecture (current Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru) and held a meeting with local leaders about arranging killings in areas like Kaduha, Murambi, and Cyanika. ALSO READ: April 17, 1994: Genocidal government appoints extremist officials to expedite killings Édouard Karemera, the then Minister of Institutional Relations, visited the former Gitarama Prefecture (current Muhanga and Ruhango) to mobilise people there to start genocide. The Tutsi continued to die across the country. For instance, at Gatwaro stadium in the former Kibuye Prefecture (current Karongi), many Tutsi were killed, having been taken there by the local authorities, lying to them that they would be protected. ALSO READ: Thirty years of the crumbling of genocidaires and ever-present denial The victims of the Gatwaro stadium massacre had survived earlier attacks at Kibuye Church, Home Saint Jean, and Mubuga Church. As they took refuge at Gatwaro, they were joined by their counterparts from Mabanza Commune. Before entering the stadium, all their belongings including sticks had been taken away. They stayed in the stadium for some days before they were murdered. During that time, water pipes supplying the stadium were cut and the Tutsi inside got very ill due to the poor sanitation. Some of them who tried to go seek for medication at Kibuye hospital were killed on the way or forced to return to the stadium without getting any help. ALSO READ: April 16, 1994: The atrocious Rukumberi killings take shape Though the prefect of Kibuye, Clement Kayishema, would not allow any well-wisher to provide any assistence to the refugees, Dr Wolfgang Blam, a German medic – and his Rwandan counterpart Dr Leonard Hitimana – continued to care for the Tutsi who were wounded and still surviving but in very difficult conditions. In Kamonyi, terrible killings also took place. In Nyarusange village of Karengera cell, Musambira sector, on April 18, 1994, Pio Ntahobari, a head priest of a local church together with a teacher called Rwakayigamba and a church secretary called Nyagahene denied the Tutsi entrance into the church saying that they would destroy it. Having been denied entrance into the church, the Tutsi camped at a market opposite the church but they were chased away from there too and told that their God was at Kabgayi and it is where they should go. ALSO READ: April 15, 1994: Tutsi drowned in Lake Muhazi, children smashed onto walls The Tutsi headed to Kibuza where they were attacked by a group of killers but managed to escape before they met another group at Gaperi, which was harder to escape. The Interagamwe killed men and boys only. Some survivors carried on running up to Musambira Parish and entered the church there. The next morning, however, a truck full of soldiers arrived at the church and held a meeting with Interahamwe that had arrived from Kivuye (in Burera). After the meeting, the priest of the church told the Tutsi hiding there to leave, especially the ones who had arrived last. As they left, the soldiers started shooting them to death one by one. In Rusizi, at Nkaka Parish, many Tutsi were killed, having fled to the place from the killings that had started in Gitwa and Murambi along with burning of houses. They came to the parish because the bourgmestre of Kamembe commune Jean Napoleon Mubiligi had told them that they will be protected there. On April 18, 1994 Interahamwe killed them using grenades, wooden clubs, and machetes. ALSO READ: Genocide survivor Nduwamungu reflects on overcoming “urge to avenge family” The same day, 60 Tutsi who had taken refuge at Kamembe Commune were killed. They were first hidden by a Commune staff member called Gatera Casimir. However, Gatera was intimidated by the bourgmestre who told him to send them out before Interahamwe destroyed the entire office searching for them. The Tutsi were therefore sent away and Interahamwe killed them. In Simbi Sector, in Huye, more than 40,000 Tutsi were killed when soldiers, policemen, and Interahamwe, attacked them with grenades, stones, and machetes, while in Rwamagana, at Sovu school, more than 15,000 Tutsi were killed by municipal police and Interahamwe mainly using guns. In many more places, killings took place, the most horrible of which was the massacre of more than 50,000 Tutsi in Kabuya swamp in the same district.

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April 18, 1994: Interim president Sindikubwabo, Karemera incite the masses to commit genocide in rural Rwanda