April 30, 1994: Tutsi massacred in Gisenyi’s commune rouge

On April 30, 1994, as the Genocide against the Tutsi continued across the country, the killers in Gisenyi town (current Rubavu), tricked the Tutsi who had escaped earlier massacres to come out of their hiding places “since peace had been restored.” On that day, a truck with loudspeakers passed in the town calling upon all Tutsi to come out of hiding because no Tutsi would be killed again. All those who came out of their hiding places were killed at the infamous Commune Rouge. ALSO READ: Commune Rouge, the slaughter scene where Tutsi were buried alive in 1994 The place where Commune Rouge was, is now a Genocide memorial site where more than 5,000 bodies of victims killed from Gisenyi and surrounding areas were buried. The massacre on April 30 was preceded by extended propaganda, abusive language, insults, and hatred published by Kangura, a local newspaper whose Chief editor Hassan Ngeze was a native of the area. In Rusizi, in Mibilizi catholic parish, on April 30, 1994, the few Tutsi (about 60) who had survived earlier killings were also murdered by a group of Interahamwe who, along with their chief Yusufu Munyakazi, had just returned from killing Tutsi in the Shangi areas of Nyamasheke district. ALSO READ: April 24, 1994: Tutsi killed in Kabgayi, Ruhango Mibilizi catholic parish witnessed many killings of the Tutsi in earlier days of the Genocide since more than 8,000 Tutsi fled to the place for refuge. For instance, on April 18, Interahamwe attacked the place thrice, killing thousands of people, using guns and grenades. In Huye district, at Ngoma catholic parish, on April 30, 1994, rapes and massacres happened against the Tutsi who had fled to the place. Many Tutsi had taken refuge at the parish. They included children, as well as the youth and elderly. The killers attacked the place on April 30 and started killing the Tutsi in ghastly ways that included smashing babies in the road. Adults were cut with machetes and hit with clubs, while many women and girls were raped. ALSO READ: April 23, 1994: Tutsi thrown into Nyamagana pond, Burundians take part in killings In Ntarama swamp in Bugesera district, on April 30, the killers used grenades and guns as well as traditional weapons like machetes and clubs to massacre many Tutsi. The assault against the Tutsi in this area was a serious one, manned by not only Interahamwe but soldiers from different parts of the country including camps like Gako, Ngenda and Gashora military bases, as well as Gicumbi, Gikomero, Mbogo, and Nyamabuye. ALSO READ: April 22, 1994: Catholic nuns turn away Tutsi seeking refuge at monastery The attack took place from around 10am to 4pm and only stopped because some of the killers complained that they had come from far away and had to walk long distances back.

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April 30, 1994: Tutsi massacred in Gisenyi’s commune rouge