{"id":121910,"date":"2026-04-13T15:09:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide"},"modified":"2026-04-13T15:25:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T15:25:00","slug":"killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide","title":{"rendered":"Killings in Churches Mark End of First Week of Genocide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>The first week of the Genocide against the Tutsi ended on April 13, 1994, a day that was characterised by large-scale killings, particularly in churches in Kigali and other places where many Tutsi had gone seeking safety.<\/p>\n

Several religious facilities became scenes of violence, including Colle\u0300ge Saint-Andre\u0301, St. Charles Lwanga Church, and St. Joseph Convent in Nyamirambo.<\/p>\n

At St. Joseph Convent, members of the Josephite clergy attempted to shield those who had taken refuge there. The priests refused to surrender the refugees to the attackers and as a result, the priests were killed. The assailants then turned on the refugees, many of whom were massacred. According to survivors, more than 2,000 Tutsi had gathered at the convent, and a large number lost their lives.<\/p>\n

In Bumbogo on the outskirts of Kigali, Interahamwe militia, working alongside government troops, launched an assault on Tutsi who had sought refuge on Nkuzuzu hill. Many were killed by gunfire during the attack. A small number managed to escape and fled to Gishaka Parish, where a foreign priest, Father Michel, welcomed them, provided assistance, and stayed with them in prayer through the night.<\/p>\n

However, the following morning, April 14, attackers including Interahamwe members and police from Gikomero Commune surrounded the parish and carried out another massacre, killing most of the remaining refugees.<\/p>\n

More massacres at Musha Catholic Church<\/p>\n

Between April 12-13, 1994, over 8,000 Tutsi were killed at the Catholic Parish of Musha in Kigali, in an attack perpetrated by officials including Paul Bisengimana, the mayor of Gikoro Commune.<\/p>\n

The Interahamwe first attacked women and girls and raped them, before starting to kill those who were taking refuge at the parish.<\/p>\n

Paul Bisengimana pleaded guilty to genocide before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison. He completed his sentence.<\/p>\n

Massacres at Rukara Catholic church, Kayonza<\/p>\n

Many Tutsi who had taken refuge at Rukara church, near Gahini were also attacked and murdered on April 13.<\/p>\n

Twelve of them were killed while fighting against the Interahamwe who wanted to take over their cattle. The Interahamwe then seized all of the refugees’ property before massacring them.<\/p>\n

The massacres were coordinated by Jean Mpambara, the mayor of Rukara Commune, working together with Interahamwe from Murambi.<\/p>\n

Mpambara was acquitted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, but the survivors affirm that he led the massacres.<\/p>\n

Massacres in Kanyinya, Nyarugenge Commune<\/p>\n

In Kanyinya Sector, Nyarugenge Commune, Kigali, Joseph Nzabamwita, a local leader (councilor) asked the Tutsi to call their counterparts to gather together so that he would get them security. He was lying.<\/p>\n

On April 13, Nzabamwita told them that he was going to look for gendarmes (policemen) who would protect them. They were told that they would be brought to a hilly place called Kana where Interahamwe could not located them.<\/p>\n

Upon arrival there, they were told to wait since supplies and provisions were coming. To their surprise, in the evening it was the Interahamwe who arrived. They killed them with traditional weapons overnight.<\/p>\n

Massacres at Ruharambuga, Nyamasheke<\/p>\n

On the same day, Interahamwe of Rukoma surrounded more than 60 Tutsi. They gathered them at the home of a resident called Asterie Nyirandimubenshi. They massacred them.<\/p>\n

After killing them, the Interahamwe leader Wellars Gasarasi brought together the militiamen, thanked them for what they had accomplished, and authorised them to seize the property of the Tutsi.<\/p>\n

More massacres took place in various places across the country including Cyangugu (Rusizi), Kibuye (Karongi), Kayonza, and Gikongoro (current Nyamagabe).<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Rwanda<\/span> Follow Africa-Press<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. The first week of the Genocide against the Tutsi ended on April 13, 1994, a day that was characterised by large-scale killings, particularly in churches in Kigali and other places where many Tutsi had gone seeking safety. Several religious facilities became scenes of violence, including Colle\u0300ge Saint-Andre\u0301, St. Charles Lwanga Church, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":121909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,30,14],"tags":[9577,758],"class_list":["post-121910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","category-policy","tag-kwibuka-32","tag-rwanda"],"yoast_head":"\nKillings in Churches Mark End of First Week of Genocide - Rwanda<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The first week of the Genocide against the Tutsi ended on April 13, 1994, a day that was characterised by large-scale ki ...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Killings in Churches Mark End of First Week of Genocide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The first week of the Genocide against the Tutsi ended on April 13, 1994, a day that was characterised by large-scale ki ...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Rwanda\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-13T15:09:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-13T15:25:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2026\/04\/sm_1776081272.939115.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"667\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"Killings in Churches Mark End of First Week of Genocide\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-13T15:09:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-13T15:25:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide\"},\"wordCount\":593,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sites\/23\/2026\/04\/sm_1776081272.939115.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Kwibuka 32\",\"Rwanda\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"Community\",\"Policy\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/policy\/killings-in-churches-mark-end-of-first-week-of-genocide\",\"name\":\"Killings in Churches Mark End of First Week of Genocide - 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