Role of local authorities in the planning and execution of genocide against the Tutsi between October 1990 and March 1994

The genocide committed against the Tutsi between April and July 1994 was made possible because all institutions, both public and private, participated in it. This genocide could not have occurred if local authorities, very close to the population, had not played a key role in its organization and in sensitizing the population to participate massively. To begin, let us recall some facts as a reminder of the history of the components of this genocide. The massacres of Kibilira in October 1990 were initiated by the sub-prefect of Ngororero, Bernard Niyitegeka, and the mayor of Commune Kibilira, Jean-Baptiste Nteziryayo. Sub-prefect Niyitegeka convened a meeting bringing together mayors and councilors from the communes of Kibilira, Satinskyi, and Ramba, which formed the sub-prefecture of Ngororero, with the participation of MRND political cadres from this region, including Léon Mugesera, counselor in charge of political and administrative affairs within the MRND and at the same time vice-president of the MRND in the prefecture of Gisenyi. During the meeting, sub-prefect Bernard Niyitegeka displayed two corpses claiming they were Hutu killed by Tutsi. He asked them to mobilize the population to ensure security and launch a hunt for the enemy. After this meeting, the mayors and councilors implemented the instructions dictated to them by the sub-prefect, and many Tutsis perished. In several localities of the former commune of Kibilira, the attacks were led by councilors and cell leaders. In the cell of Makoma (Gatumba sector), the massacres were led by Joséphine Mugeni. She gathered Hutu and asked them to get rid of Tutsi because, she said, a plan by Tutsi to eliminate Hutus had been discovered. In the Ntobwe sector, the massacres were led by its counselor, Jean-Baptiste Ntwari. Other influential people have also been accused of participating in the killings. In addition to Mayor Jean-Baptiste Nteziryayo, Léon Mugesera from this region is also mentioned, Pierre Tegera who led the National Potato Improvement Program (PNAP) agricultural project, and the president of the MRND in the Kibilira commune, Innocent Teganya. To incite Hutu peasants to participate in the massacres, authorities spread unfounded rumors, including claims that Colonel Laurent Serubuga had been killed by Tutsi and that Colonel Charles Uwihoreye — originally from Ngororero and who led the EGENA gendarmerie school in Ruhengeri — had also been killed by Tutsi. These rumors aimed to demonize the Tutsi in order to convince the Hutu to defend themselves by killing the Tutsi. The late François Nsengiyumva, who perished in the Genocide in 1994, conducted research on these massacres and provided many names of Tutsi victims, describing the circumstances of their murder. He gave the example of a woman named Mathilde Mukabideli, who was a trader in the center of Rubona, who often refused offers from those who wanted to sexually abuse her. In October 1990, they gruesomely killed her by piercing her genitals with a sword and mocking her in cruel and indecent ways. Nsengiyumva gives another example of a child, Wellars Mukiza, from the Kirengo sector. When his parents saw the attack, they fled running. The child hid in the hedge, but innocently, he only hid his head leaving his legs visible outside. The torturers discovered him and struck him with a machete on the leg and neck. They left him at the scene thinking he was dead. His mother, realizing she had left her child, returned to look for him and found him dying. She was also seriously injured. She tried to lift him and went to throw herself into the Nyabarongo River. It should also be noted that many Tutsi were thrown alive into this river. Another infant from the Tharcisse Munyankumburwa family was burned in the house with their parents, but the part of the house where it was located did not completely catch fire. The killers left the baby crying for three days. He starved to death. His only crime was being Tutsi. None of his assassins were brought to justice. On July 6, 1991, the Minister of Interior and Community Development, Faustin Munyazesa, sent a letter to President Habyarimana regarding the massacres committed against the Bagogwe in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri. He reported that 286 Bagogwe had been massacred in the Ruhengeri prefecture, compared to 86 in the Gisenyi prefecture. He provided the names of the deceased, their residence cells, sectors, and communes. These figures show that the killed individuals are distributed as follows: Gisenyi Prefecture: Commune of Giciye: 22 killed and 13 injured in the Kibisabo school Commune of Gaseke: 15 killed Commune of Karago: 16 killed and 1 injured in the Rambura school Commune of Mutura: 24 killed Commune of Kanama: 9 killed Ruhengeri Prefecture: Commune of Butaro: 24 killed, 14 widows, and 44 orphans Commune of Kigombe: 17 killed, 14 widows, and 46 orphans Commune of Nkumba: 15 killed, 10 widows, and 40 orphans Commune of Kidaho: 20 killed, 27 widows, and 97 orphans Commune of Kinigi: 20 killed, 18 widows, and 59 orphans Another document dated October 15, 1991, written by the Director-General in charge of policy at Mininter, Eterne Kubwimana, titled Note to the attention of the Minister of Interior and Community Development, provides a higher toll of the massacres. Kubwimana indicated that between October 1990 and June 1991, the figures for Tutsi killed and those persecuted in the prefectures of Byumba, Ruhengeri, Gisenyi, and Kibungo are as follows: People killed: 1,508 Disabled due to violence: 302 Widows: 633 Orphans: 2,274 After receiving this document, the Minister of Interior, Faustin Munyazesa, addressed a letter to the President of the Republic on November 15, 1991, reporting these massacres while expressing satisfaction. Another letter dated July 17, 1991, provides information on the number of people killed, injured, disabled, their social categories, and property destroyed between October 1, 1990, and June 29, 1991, for each commune in the prefectures of Byumba, Gisenyi, Ruhengeri, and Kibungo: Byumba Prefecture: People killed: 894, including 636 men and 258 women Disabled due to violence: 188, including 57 men, 21 women, and 21 children Widows or widowers: 372, including 91 men and 281 women Orphans of both parents: 219 Orphans of a single parent: 1,253 Orphans under the age of five: 518 Orphans aged over five: 954 Students: 359 Ruhengeri Prefecture: People killed: 117, including 103 men and 14 women Disabled due to violence: 101, including 62 men, 22 women, and 17 children Widows or widowers: 86, including 10 men and 76 women Orphans of both parents: 9 Orphans of a single parent: 292 Students: 70 Gisenyi Prefecture: People killed: 470 Disabled due to violence: 9, including 8 men and 1 woman Widows or widowers: 153, including 35 men and 118 women Orphans of both parents: 47 Orphans of a single parent: 354 Kibungo Prefecture: People killed: 27, including 24 men and 3 women Disabled due to violence: 4 Widows or widowers: 22, including 3 men and 19 women Orphans of both parents: 2 Orphans of a single parent: 98 Orphans under the age of 5: 39 Orphans aged over 5: 61 Students: 25 This document also mentions that 169 people, mostly Bagogwe, went missing, including 20 from the Nkuli commune, 33 from Mukingo, and 116 from Kinigi. It adds that most of these individuals may have died. These figures published by the Rwandan government itself highlight that many civilians were killed between 1990 and 1994 with no connection to the war but rather, solely based on their Tutsi ethnic identity. The massacres of civilians in 1991 were committed in retaliation after the defeat of the Rwandan army in Ruhengeri, which resulted in the liberation of prisoners by the RPF on January 23, 1991. At that time, the commander of operations in this prefecture, Colonel Charles Uwihoreye, was summoned to Kigali and imprisoned. He was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Jean-Marie Vianney Nzapfakumunsi, a native of Kibuye. He led the massacres of Tutsi in the communes of Ruhengeri. He had as his collaborator Captain Boniface Hasengineza, a native of Ruhengeri, who sent his soldiers to track down the Bagogwe before they were executed in the Mukamira military camp. The night of March 4 to 5, 1992, was marked by systematic massacres of Tutsis in Bugesera. They were carried out by the Interahamwe, the presidential guard, and soldiers from the Gako camp. They were preceded by the broadcast of an incitement statement on March 3 on Radio Rwanda by journalist Jean Baptiste Bamwanga under the orders of Ferdinand Nahimana, then director of the Rwandan Information Office. Bamwanga commented on this false document, explaining that it had been published by the RPF leadership, mentioning the names of senior authorities of the Habyarimana regime that the RPF planned to eliminate, in collaboration with its accomplices inside. Bamwanga stated that this document had been found in Nyamata at a Tutsi merchant named François Gahima, who was the local president of the Liberal Party (PL). This false information was, in reality, a direct incitement to killings. The figures provided by the government on these killings indicated the following results: Kanzenze Commune: People massacred: 62 Residential houses burned: 309 Kitchens burned: 573 Missing livestock: 165 cows, 268 goats, and 2 pigs. Ngenda Commune: People massacred: 36 Residential houses burned: 74 Kitchens burned: 119 Missing livestock: 112 cows, 111 goats, and 16 pigs. Gashora Commune: People massacred: 84 Residential houses burned: 216 Kitchens burned: 288 Missing livestock: 188 cows, 325 goats, and 28 pigs. The report indicated a total of 16,239 Tutsis who had left their homes and sought refuge in various administrative and religious buildings in Nyamata, Maranyundo, Ruhuha, Musenyi, Karama, Gitagata, Mayange, Rango, Ntarama, Murago, Kigusa, and Kayenzi. Five independent human rights defense associations—ADL, Lichredor, ARDHO, Kanyarwanda, and AVP—conducted two investigations into these massacres and discovered numerous damages. Their first report was published on March 10, 1992, reporting the death of over 300 Tutsi. Some were thrown into rivers, others burned alive in their homes. The report then noted that there were 15,000 displaced Tutsi who lived in deplorable conditions, especially Tutsi refugees at the parish and schools in Nyamata, Maranyundo, Ruhuha, and Rilima. The report denounced the responsibility of authorities involved in these massacres, including Kanzenze's mayor, Fidèle Rwambuka; Kanazi's sub-prefect, Faustin Sekagina; Kanazi's first deputy prosecutor, Déogratias Ndimubanzi; and the intelligence service chief in Kanazi's sub-prefecture, Dominique Muhawenimana. On March 30, 1993, the aforementioned human rights defense associations conducted another investigation in Bugesera to assess security one year after the 1992 massacres. In their report published on April 5, 1993, they reported that many displaced Tutsi had still not reclaimed their property and remained threatened by CDR members. The report also specified that young girls had been raped by Gako's military, and people continued to be persecuted under the pretext of being suspected of wanting to join the ranks of the RPF. Some victims could be identified, including Nyabyenda and Anastase, who worked for a senior official at Minecofin called Mbarute. A person named Butera was killed by the military in Nyarurama (Ngenda) on March 6, 1993. Many people were beaten and became disabled, like the elderly Mutabazi, beaten on February 21, 1993, by gendarmes and police at the Kanzenze commune office. Lieutenant Colonel Claudien Singirankabo, commander of the Gako camp, justified these crimes as a consequence of the war imposed on them by the RPF, claiming that even his mother had been killed by the RPF in Ruhengeri. Antonia Locatelli, an Italian national, was the director of the Integrated Rural and Craft Education Center (CERAI) in Nyamata. Her assassination occurred on the night of March 9 and 10, 1992, due to a bullet deliberately fired by gendarme Épimaque Ulimubenshi. This Italian educator in Nyamata had sheltered Tutsi refugees fleeing the killers and had alerted several public and private institutions, including the Archdiocese of Kigali to which the Nyamata CERAI belonged. Antonia Locatelli had also provided information on the massacres against the Tutsi to Radio France Internationale (RFI). She was killed immediately after the broadcast of her interview on RFI's evening news. Her assailant was never held accountable, indicating that it was an orchestrated act supported by the Rwandan regime. The relentless actions of the Rwandan regime to commit atrocities in Bugesera can be explained by the fact that this region was populated by numerous Tutsi, and the government constantly propagated that Tutsi youth were leaving Bugesera to join the ranks of the RPF via Burundi. Many press articles, including those from the government newspaper Imvaho, accused the Tutsi of Bugesera of being suppliers of reinforcement for the RPF. In early 1993, 137 Tutsi were massacred in the prefectures of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri within a month. These figures, provided by the intelligence service, concerned ordinary citizens who had no connection to the war but were killed solely due to their ethnic background. A document drafted on January 27, 1993, by a senior official representing the intelligence service in Gisenyi, Damien Niyibizi, outlines what was discussed in a security meeting of the Gisenyi prefecture. This meeting brought together mayors, sub-prefects, and all officials in charge of security instances in the prefecture and the army. Each mayor provided the security situation in their commune. Throughout the prefecture, 137 people had been killed, distributed as follows: Gaseke: 32 Giciye: 9 Kanama: 7 Karago: 1 Kayove: 4 Nyamyumba: 4 Ramba: 21 Rubavu: 3 Satinskyi: 56 This same document also mentioned the case of displaced persons who had abandoned their property. After these massacres, the international community pressured the Rwandan government. Human rights defense associations in Rwanda and opposition political parties were then able to establish a commission to shed light on the perpetrators of these pogroms. This commission consisted of the following six individuals: Dr. Augustin Iyamuremye, director general of the internal intelligence service at the prime minister's office (commission president) Laurent Kanyarubira, advisor to the Ministry of Interior Major Hategekimana of the Rwandan army (although he never participated in the commission's work) Laurent Rebero, advisor on administrative and legal matters at the Ministry of Justice Norbert Muhaturukundo, director at the Ministry of Information Athanase Munyemana, director at the prime minister's office This commission spoke with individuals from all categories, including members of religious denominations. It concluded that the massacres were provoked by the manifestations of the MRND and the CDR. The key point highlighted by this commission is the responsibility of high military and civilian authorities. In its report, the commission indicated that massacres had been committed in several communes of the Gisenyi prefecture, including Mutura, Nyamyumba, Kibilira, and Kayove. In the communes of Ramba and Giciye, the massacres were directed by communal authorities. The prefect of Gisenyi, Joseph Habiyambere, was singled out as the ringleader, along with sub-prefects, Ildefonse Rukabukira and Bikumbi. The commander of the place in Gisenyi, Colonel Juvénal Bahufite, was also named. The commission's conclusions recommended that the following authorities be sanctioned: Prefect Joseph Habiyambere Mayor Charles Bwangamwabo of Giciye commune Mayor Théogène Nzabanita of Ramba commune Léodomir Bugurijabo of Nyamutera commune , However, the commission did not mention other commune leaders who had responsibilities in the massacres of Tutsi. Although government established commissions revealed certain crimes, they did not shed light on the entire truth and did not demand sanctions against all perpetrators of these ethnic pogroms. For example, Colonel Juvénal Bahufite remained the commander in Gisenyi without facing any consequences, as did Major André Bizimana, despite the two authorities coordinating the execution of the massacres. In March 1993, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) conducted an investigation in Rwanda and exposed the extent of the massacres committed against the Bagogwe. This inquiry was carried out by 10 experts from various European, American, and African countries. They were: Jean Carbonare (France), group president Philippe Dahinden (Switzerland) René Degni-Ségui (Ivory Coast) Alison Des Forges (United States) Éric Gillet (Belgium) William Schabas (Canada) Halidou Ouedraogo (Burkina Faso) André Paradis (Canada) Rein Odink (Netherlands) Paul Dodinval (Belgium) Published in March 1993, their report pointed out that in the former commune of Kinigi, innocent people were massacred and thrown into mass graves. These massacres were led by Mayor Thaddée Gasana. In the commune of Mukingo, the massacres were supervised by Mayor Juvénal Kajelijeli and the Minister of Public Works and Energy, Joseph Nzirorera. Kajelijeli was sentenced by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to 45 years in prison. Nzirorera died before the end of the trial in which he was co-accused with Édouard Karemera and Mathieu Ngirumpatse. In the commune of Nkuli, led by Mayor Mathias Mpiranya, many innocent Tutsi were killed. Some were thrown into the Nyaruhunga cave, while others died at the Ruhengeri Court of Appeal. In the communes of Gaseke and Giciye, the Bagogwe were also massacred by the population under the direction of the authorities of these communes. The report mentions that the high-ranking officials responsible for these massacres are: Jean-Marie Vianney Mugemana, former Minister of Interior and Communal Development Charles Nzabagerageza, Prefect of Ruhengeri Jérémie Sukiranya, Director of Ruhengeri Prison These authorities were accused of visiting these communes, urging the population to participate in ‘exceptional community work’ - clear everywhere, and kill RPF accomplices hiding in the bushes, meaning the Tutsi. They recommended engaging in this task, citing a Rwandan proverb that says one who eliminates weeds must uproot them completely . Following these instructions from the authorities, Tutsi were murdered in various communes of the Gisenyi prefecture, particularly Giciye, Gaseke, Ramba, Karago, Mutura, Kanama, and Rwerere. In the Gaseke commune, the massacres were particularly intense on February 2, 1991. The killers used traditional weapons such as spears, machetes, hoes, sharp sticks, or stones. Among the brutally murdered individuals, the report gives the example of a woman named Mukamana. She was married to a teacher detained at Gisenyi Prison since October 1990, falsely accused of being an Inkotanyi. This woman was dismembered in front of her two children aged two and three. After killing their mother, the children were thrown into the latrines. This gruesome act was carried out by the locals, led by the sector counselor of Mwendo. The report notes that in the Gaseke commune, more than 60 people were massacred in 10 days. The report also mentions that the killers were protected by high authorities to avoid legal consequences. It gives the example of Joseph Buhirike, the younger brother of Colonel Élie Sagatwa, who was President Habyarimana's private secretary. Buhirike killed numerous Tutsi in the Gihira sector of Giciye commune without facing consequences. In the Karago commune, which is the home commune of President Habyarimana, 68 Tutsi perished. Once again, the killers were not held accountable. In the Mutura commune, the massacres were committed by Bigogwe soldiers. Mayor Faustin Ndabarinze and the police officer Rwamakuba tried to protect the victims, but they were ultimately not able too because they were dismissed from their positions. Another example of the active involvement of grassroots authorities in the massacres of Tutsi between 1990 and 1994 is Jean Baptiste Gatete, the mayor of Murambi commune. Gatete led the Murambi commune for twelve years, from 1981 until 1993. He committed unimaginable atrocities against Tutsi that worsened from 1990, at the beginning of the liberation war. At that time, Gatete arrested and detained numerous Tutsi, most of whom were transported to Byumba to be killed at the military camp. In 1991, Gatete intensified his provocations against Tutsi and some Hutu who were not members of the MRND. One key example is as follows. On the night of November 7, 1991, Marie Kampire was crushed in the chest, and her daughter, Gorette Murekatete, was beaten with a hammer on the legs and arms. The expedition that committed these horrors was led by the authorities of the basic state instances under the leadership of counselor Jean Bizimungu in collaboration with cell leader Denis Nzabamwita. When they arrived at their home, the killers broke down the door, entered the house, and beat the Tutsis living there. Local authorities stayed in the yard smoking their cigarettes, saying, “Let them kill the Inkotanyi; there is Rwigema's grandmother.” 2 The expedition grievously wounded 70-year-old, Aloys Sekabirigita with machete blows. On November 12, 1991, journalists joined him at the Kiziguro hospital where he was receiving treatment. They interviewed him and wanted to understand the motives behind the attack. He replied, “young men leave me alone; it's because I am Tutsi. Yet, my attackers are no more Rwandan than I am.” The elderly woman, Concessa Ngenzi, aged 62, had also fallen victim to machete blows during the expedition led by counselor Jean Bizimungu, Gérard Kayonza (primary school teacher), Odette Kabagwira, and cell leader Uwamariya. They committed this barbarity while chanting the slogan, “our movement is high! Habyarimana, continue to lead us!” A large number of Tutsi were killed, especially in the Rwankuba sector, where 82-year-old Mukacyoya was struck down with a spear. The journalists from Kinyamateka , who visited the commune on November 12, 1991, published a moving article written by Ladislas Niyongira. Here is an excerpt: Two weeks ago, disturbances erupted within the population of Murambi commune. Mayor Gatete attributes them to the MDR party, which, according to him, is dominated by Tutsi. The population believes Gatete is the instigator, collaborating with certain sector and cell authorities. The wounded are still in the hospital. Tension still lingers in the commune, although the authorities want to conceal it by claiming that peace has been restored. When questioned about the causes of these troubles, Mayor Gatete seems to have memorized what the radio broadcasts. He told us that Murambi commune, in the Buganza region, is densely populated by Tutsi, although they are not more numerous than the Hutu. Added to this is the RPF war prepared in Murambi commune, as in other communes, including Ngarama, Muvumba, etc. So, according to Gatete, the accomplices are numerous. Some were sent to Byumba and were killed, but there are those who were released and remain furious. The mayor believes that the Hutu-Tutsi problem has been revived by the war. The Rwankuba massacres in Murambi commune received widespread media coverage, mainly initiated by international human rights organizations, following information transmitted to them by Rwandan associations, including Kanyarwanda and the Association of Volunteers for Peace. The Rwandan government found itself embarrassed as it had to explain to embassies in Kigali. To address this, it established a so-called commission of inquiry into the Rwankuba massacres. The commission comprised four senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior: Éterne Kubwimana, Director of Political Affairs, Commission President André Banyurwabake, Chief of the Inspection and Support Division Vénérand Musabyimana, Chief of the Information and Documentation Division Apollinaire Mukamakuza, Social Worker The commission's mission was to identify the causes of the troubles that occurred in the Rwankuba sector, Murambi commune, Byumba prefecture, on the night of November 7 to 8, 1991. The commission went to Murambi, interviewed various authorities, and visited the Kiziguro parish where over 200 refugees had settled in the Rwankuba sector where the massacres occurred. The commission submitted its report on November 13, 1991. Starting with the Ngarama sub-prefect who declared that the massacres were provoked by the Tutsi, the commission reports his words: The authorities of the Ngarama sub-prefecture took the opportunity to make us understand that the troubles that occurred in Murambi commune are one of the goals of the Inyenzi-Inkotanyi in the war they triggered. They divided the population within our country. They killed people and destroyed infrastructure to win the war. Mayor Gatete was also questioned by the commission, who stated that: The problem of disagreement between the majority ethnic groups has long existed in Murambi commune, especially since 1988. Since that year, the Tutsis have begun to separate themselves, to create factions, boasting that they have already won the victory, that Kigeli will return, that Rwigema will liberate them. [...] Many Tutsi young men obtained passports claiming they were visiting relatives while going for military training in Mbarara (Uganda). When the October 1990 war broke out, all those suspected of being accomplices were arrested by the population and handed over to the authorities. They were detained, and 16 even died in prison. Detainees released after the N’Sele agreements in Zaire on March 29, 1991, returned with the aim of eliminating Gatete, the mayor of Murambi commune. He was alerted by a Hutu who was detained with them and had also been released. After the failure to shoot or poison him, they began to slander him in the press and with leaflets. This is the work of some people living in the commune and others in Kigali but originating from Murambi. The commission, after validating Gatete's statements, confirmed his additional explanations, producing lies that exonerate Mayor Gatete and his collaborators from their clear responsibility. Below are excerpts: The trigger for the troubles in the Rwankuba sector was the MDR meeting held in the commune on October 27, 1991, led by Évergiste Rwambonera with Viateur Mutanguha, head of the pharmacy division at the Ministry of Health, and Bizimungu, youth and cooperative supervisor in Murambi commune. Many Tutsi participated in this meeting chanting the slogan: 'We win, we win, we will lead you for eternity!' After this meeting, Tutsi no longer spent the night at home. They formed factions and spent the night at Ndahindurwa's place. During the night of Tuesday, November 5, 1991, they attacked the Rwankuba sector counselor who refused to come out. The next night, they attacked the homes of counselors Munyangondo, Gatabo, Kalisa, and Rubayiza [except the counselor, the others are Tutsi]. Throughout the sector, the whole night was tumultuous. Early the next day, people fled to seek refuge in the Giti, Muhazi, and Gikoro communes, as well as at Kiziguro parish. Some even fled to Kigali before the troubles (Rutaremara, Byusa Gérard, Buhigiro, and Gashoki, Viateur Mutanguha's brother-in-law). Gatete attributes all causes of the massacres to the Tutsi, claiming they launched expeditions against the Hutu. They wanted to absolve his Interahamwe from the crimes they committed and make it understood that the Hutus were acting in a position of legitimate defense. After the interview with Gatete, the commission interviewed Father Mbyariyehe from Kiziguro parish. The priest's statements reveal his biased ideas: The troubles did not surprise the Tutsi because before taking refuge at the parish, they sent envoys to warn the priest of their arrival. Even though they claim to have been looted, few goods were stolen, the others having been hidden well before their flight. We also asked Father Mbyariyehe, who often talks to the refugees, about their wishes. He replied that they wanted the prefect to bring them home after dismissing counselor Bizimungu and repairing their houses. He also told us that the Tutsi no longer had confidence in the communal authorities and that they were too arrogant. The report continues by exposing the wishes expressed by refugees, who were crowded at Kiziguro parish: They told us that the expedition organized to ransack their homes and beat them had been launched by the counselor, but they could not provide us with irrefutable evidence. They informed us that the reason they had sought refuge at Kiziguro parish instead of public institutions was that those who had gone to alert the authorities had been arrested by the commune. [...] They wish for the prefect and sub-prefect to reintegrate them into their properties. These authorities must first revoke the Rwankuba sector counselor. They wish for the perpetrators of violent acts to be arrested and held temporarily pending trial. They also wish for their homes to be repaired before occupying them and for assistance. Finally, they wish for the authorities to strengthen security upon their return to avoid further persecution. The commission members continue by recounting what was stated by counselor Jean Bizimungu from the Rwankuba sector: He confessed that the climate of tension between Hutu and Tutsi living in this sector had prevailed long before the massacres. Tutsi target him because, during the October 1990 war, he uncovered accomplices of the Inyenzi-Inkotanyi, who are mostly Tutsi. He also told us that he was the first to be attacked by the Tutsi. They reportedly attacked him on the night of November 6, 1991, and resumed the next night. Among his assailants were Byusa, Rutaremara, Gasana, Kagarama, Kabera, Nyemazi, Kirenga, Subika, Gisagara, Rutayisire, Mugabo, etc. Finally, he told us that the Hutu attacked the Tutsis in a state of legitimate defense because the latter had attacked their counselor. He added that the Tutsis spent their nights plotting, which provoked the anger of the Hutus who reacted not to be surprised. These statements by Counselor Bizimungu are full of arrogance, cynicism, hatred, and the ideology of genocide. They show that he did not consider Tutsi as fellow citizens, let alone as residents with the same rights as Hutu. He falsely attributed the origin of hatred against the Hutu to them, claiming that the pogroms against the Tutsi were committed by Hutu in a state of legitimate defense. This kind of lie, attributing to Tutsi the responsibility for being authors of their own injustice, was a recurring theme during the 1990s to justify the violence and death inflicted on them by the government. The authorities who spoke to the commission included: Ngarama Sub-prefect, Gabriel Uwanyilijuru Murambi Mayor, Jean-Baptiste Gatete Rwankuba Sector Counselor, Jean Bizimungu Father Pierre Nolasque Mbyariyehe, from Kiziguro parish Tutsis who had taken refuge at Kiziguro parish In this government report, there is much subjectivity that veils the truth about the violence against Tutsi, qualifying them as conflicts, despite them being persecutions. The report also validates the false statements and hatred towards Tutsi manifested by the authorities, including the Ngarama sub-prefect and Mayor Gatete, who was the direct instigator of these massacres, as well as the Rwankuba sector counselor who worked closely with Gatete. All explanations provided by the authorities attribute the crime to the Tutsi, and the commission members were convinced of this. Another alarming fact in the commission's conclusions is that its members write that they do not support the wish of Tutsi refugees driven from their properties to revoke Counselor Bizimungu, who is clearly responsible. The commission rejects this wish, reporting that the population has no problem with this counselor: The wish to revoke Counselor Bizimungu is unfounded because only a few Tutsi target him, while the majority of the population respects and finds him correct, except for those who want to avenge their compatriots arrested due to their complicity with the Inyenzi-Inkotanyi. His revocation would be unjust and could provoke harmful consequences similar to those of the Kibilira commune last year when Hutu wanted to avenge their brother unjustly dismissed from his duties. The government's retention of individuals in positions of power despite their criminal actions can be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of their behavior, effectively granting them impunity and allowing them to persist in their wrongdoing. The commission's report was forwarded to the Minister of the Interior and then to the President of the Republic. It was also sent abroad to the Rwandan embassies to exploit it diplomatically and downplay the events in Murambi. A letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated December 9, 1991 addressed to Rwandan embassies abroad, written by Siméon Insonere, who was the Secretary-General of this ministry, clearly demonstrates the intention to deny the massacres. In this letter, Insonere claims that the Ministry of the Interior's report on the so-called massacres of Murambi, which is how he described them, was meticulously conducted and constitutes the government's response. The expression so-called massacres, indicates that the commission was not tasked with revealing the truth but rather establishing a smokescreen intended for the international community, to demonstrate that an investigation had been conducted and had found that peace prevailed in Murambi, which was not at all the case. Simeon Insonere currently lives in France. He is one of the witnesses in Judge Bruguière's case, which spread falsehoods about the top authorities of Rwanda, including the President of the Republic, Paul Kagame. Insonere is also among the active members of FDU-Inkingi.

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Role of local authorities in the planning and execution of genocide against the Tutsi between October 1990 and March 1994