Africa-Press – Rwanda. April 11, 1994 – the fifth day of the Genocide against the Tutsi was a horrible one for the Kicukiro neighbourhood of Kigali as Belgian peacekeepers withdrew from École Technique Officielle (ETO) where approximately 2,000 Tutsi had sought refuge, leaving them exposed to the genocidaires.
In the past years, during waves of violence against the Tutsi since 1963, ETO Kicukiro had served as a safe place for many. Trusting in that history, large numbers of Tutsi once again fled there in April 1994, hoping for protection from the UN peacekeepers.
However, on April 11, the Belgian troops stationed at the UNAMIR post within the ETO Kicukiro compound withdrew, leaving the Tutsi behind.
The same day, the killers, who included ex-Rwanda Armed Forces (ex-FAR) soldiers and Interahamwe militia, entered the school grounds.
Their first move was to force the refugees to march from ETO to Nyanza, Kicukiro. Along the way, many were murdered. Those who survived the journey were executed upon arrival in Nyanza by the use of weapons like grenades.
Elsewhere in the country, the killings continued. In Byumba Diocese, Kiziguro Catholic Parish was attacked in a lengthy assault that lasted from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The attacks were carried out by Interahamwe, mobilised by former mayor Jean-Baptiste Gatete and local businessman Augustin Nkundabazungu.
The victims were buried in mass graves near the parish primary school.
In Cyangugu (now Rusizi District), more atrocities unfolded at Shagasha ADEPR church, where many Tutsi, mainly women and children, had taken refuge. One of the most horrific attacks took place at Hanika Parish in Cyangugu where about 15,000 Tutsi were killed.
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