Africa-Press – Rwanda. Survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi residing in Nyundo Sector, Rubavu District, have expressed their profound gratitude for the security they now enjoy after the horrors they encountered over three decades ago.
This was highlighted in the testimonies shared during a commemoration event held on Tuesday, April 8, when survivors highlighted the harrowing experiences they went through while seeking refuge at Nyundo Diocese during the massacres.
Emmanuel Rutabana, a genocide survivor who sought shelter at the Catholic Church.
Emmanuel Rutabana, a survivor who sought shelter at the Catholic Church, vividly recalled the terrifying escalation of violence three decades ago.
“On April 7, I was here, and the following day we hid inside Nyundo Diocese,” Rutabana recounted. “For an entire day, we fought back, using stones and even broken bottles, against the Interahamwe who were trying to enter the church. They eventually retreated, unsuccessfully.”
Later, soldiers were deployed, and the group hiding at Nyundo faced “intense fighting involving soldiers and Interahambwe trying to storm into the church.”
“They shot at us and threw multiple grenades. Interahamwe would walk around, finishing off the Tutsi who weren’t completely dead. It was then that I managed to escape the church and, fortunately, fled to Zaire [now DR Congo]. I returned after the country was liberated by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA).”
Rutabana emphasized that despite the persistent threat of Genocide ideology being spread from neighbouring DR Congo and the ongoing struggles with trauma such as depression, alcoholism, and chronic headaches among survivors in Rubavu, they have a profound sense of security under the current government.
“We are deeply thankful to the current regime, thanks to His Excellency [Paul] Kagame because now we sleep and have security,” he added.
Genocide survivor, Eddy Hakizimana, sharing his testimony during the night vigil held to remember his father.
Eddy Hakizimana, a survivor from the former Gisenyi prefecture, said: “I am profoundly thankful to the current leadership, and most importantly to Inkotanyi who saved this country and saved us.”
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The Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), which later transformed into Rwanda Defence Force (RDF), played a crucial role in the liberation of Rwanda and saving lives during the 1994 Genocide.
The commemoration was also marked by concerns about the enduring nature of Genocide ideology.
During the night vigil for Hakizimana’s father, the worrying issue of the continued spreading of harmful false narratives among some young people was highlighted.
He said: “We are still witnessing children as young as 17 claiming that there were ‘double genocides’. They are absorbing these ideologies from their families, from their parents.”
Gerard Mbarushimana, the head of Ibuka in Rubavu.
Gerard Mbarushimana, the area’s head of Ibuka, the organisation of genocide survivors, confirmed the persistent presence of Genocide ideology within Rubavu and across the border in DR Congo.
“We strongly condemn Genocide ideology and hate speech, even in the isolated cases we see in this region,” Mbarushimana stated, referring to instances in Nyundo Sector.
“The hate speech is also prevalent in DR Congo, where FDLR, who were central to the 1994 Genocide, still attempt to return and repeat their atrocities.”
Prosper Mulindwa, the Mayor of Rubavu District, urged survivors, families, and friends gathered at the night vigil to remain vigilant in the face of escalating insecurity and the persistent Genocide ideology in DR Congo.
“It is with sadness that we mark this 31st anniversary, knowing that the remains of some Genocide victims are still missing,” Mulindwa emphasized.
“Our district is close to the country that hosted Genocide perpetrators. This means that for the past three decades, even as we commemorate, they have been organizing, sometimes crossing back to kill our people. This proves that we should remain vigilant and continue to strongly fight against the Genocide ideology that persists across the border and is supported by foreign countries.”
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