KIGALI, Rwanda — Under a somber sky this Saturday, thousands of mourners gathered at the Nyanza Genocide Memorial to pay tribute to more than 2,000 Tutsi who were abandoned by the international community and subsequently massacred during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The day’s events began with a “Walk to Remember,” a symbolic retracing of the steps taken by victims from the former École Technique Officielle (ETO) Kicukiro now IPRC Kicukiro to the Nyanza hilltop where they met their end.
A Legacy of Abandonment
The history of April 11, 1994, remains one of the most painful chapters of the genocide. Over 2,000 Tutsi had sought refuge at ETO Kicukiro, believing the presence of Belgian UN peacekeepers under the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) would guarantee their safety.
However, following the killing of ten Belgian soldiers elsewhere, the peacekeepers were ordered to withdraw. As the UN trucks departed, the refugees were left completely defenseless. Almost immediately, the compound was overrun by the Interahamwe militia and the former Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR), who forced the refugees on a “death march” toward Nyanza.
Living Testimonies of Survival
For those who survived the ensuing slaughter, the annual gathering is a vital part of restoring the dignity that was stripped away three decades ago.
Issa Nsengiyumva, who was just nine years old at the time, is the sole survivor of his family. He recalled the chaos that erupted the moment the peacekeepers left.
“As the killings began with gunfire and grenades, I managed to run away from the crowd,” Nsengiyumva said. “Fleeing into the bushes, I eventually encountered soldiers of the RPA Inkotanyi. Gathering here allows me to reflect and honor my family.”
Ignace Benimana, 75, shared a similarly harrowing account. Having fled to Kigali to escape earlier violence, he was shot in the arm during the Nyanza massacre and survived only by lying motionless among the dead. While the physical wounds have scarred over, Benimana noted that emotional closure remains elusive.
“The most painful part is that no one has ever come to ask for forgiveness, yet I know some of those responsible,” he remarked.
International and National Tributes
The commemoration drew high-ranking officials and international diplomats, highlighting the global significance of Rwanda’s journey toward healing.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Olivier Nduhungirehe led the procession alongside thousands of citizens, while Minister of Infrastructure Jimmy Gasore joined other dignitaries in laying wreaths at the memorial site. The international community was represented by French Ambassador Aurélie Royet-Gounin and Belén Calvo Uyarra, the EU Ambassador to Rwanda, both of whom honored the victims with floral tributes.
Philbert Gakwenzire, President of the survivor organization Ibuka, emphasized that while the memories are heavy, the act of collective mourning offers a rare form of solace.
As the sun set, the memorial was illuminated by the soft glow of thousands of candles. For the survivors and the nation, the event served as a firm vow that those abandoned at ETO Kicukiro will never be forgotten again.
