100 DAYS OF MURDER
With the assassination of Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana, the genocide began. The Rwandan military along with Rwandan militia groups, most notably the Interehamwe, began to systematically slaughter Tutsis and moderate pro-peace Hutus. The murders were in large part organized by a Hutu power group known as Akazu. Many members of Akazu occupied positions of power in the Rwandan government, and with the help of the state run media, they mobilized much of the Hutu population of Rwanda to strike out against the Tutsis. Armed militia groups swarmed most major Rwandan cities as well as the countryside in search of Tutsis, and road blocks were set up to trap those who tried to flee. Most victims were killed in their own villages or in towns. Their murderers were often former friends and neighbors. Although some murders were carried out with bullets, most of them were carried out with machetes. The Hutu gangs searched out victims hiding in churches and school buildings, and massacred
them. The milita groups and the government often forced Hutu civilians to carry out the murders or be massacred themselves.
them. The milita groups and the government often forced Hutu civilians to carry out the murders or be massacred themselves.
One of the most infamous massacres took place in the village of Nyange. On April 12, 1500 Tutsis, seeking refuge in the Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church were slaughtered by Interahamwe militia with the help of the local authorities. In another case, thousands sought refuge in the École Technique Officielle (Technical School) in Kigali where Belgian UNAMIR soldiers were stationed. On April 11, the Belgian soldiers withdrew, and Rwandan armed forces and militia killed all the Tutsis. For more on Nyarubuye and the genocide in Rwanda click here.
With the RPF seizure of Kigali, the genocide ended. After 100 days of chaos and murder it was difficult to determine exactly how many Rwandans perished. Out of a population of 7.3 million people–84% of whom were Hutu, 15% Tutsi and 1% Twa–the official figures published by the Rwandan government estimated the number of victims of the genocide to be 1,174,000 in 100 days (10,000 murdered every day, 400 every hour, 7 every minute). It is estimated that about 300,000 Tutsi survived the genocide. Thousands of widows, many of whom were subjected to rape, are now HIV-positive.