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French soldiers manhandle suspects brought in by genocide militia at a stadium in western Rwanda back in May 1994
On 27th June 1994, French commandos arrived in the mountainous Bisesero region in south west Rwanda. They lured more Tutsis – some of whom had been battling genocide militias, and others hiding in the bushes, to return to their homes. The French soldiers promised the villagers protection.
Within hours, the Tutsis had returned to their homes. Hardly did they know the French had set a trap. In the next two days, French soldiers provided trucks, fuel and weapons to hundreds of government soldiers and militias up the mountains – with single mission; exterminate all Tutsis.
Within two days, more than 50,000 Tutsis were massacred by rampaging genocide militia. Only 900 Tutsis survived the horrifying ordeal.
Twenty one years later, this Saturday, more than 300 genocide orphans will make the traumatizing journey up the hills where back in June 1994 were the scene of the worst mass extermination project and fight for survival. The orphans are from the Genocide Survivors Students Association (AERG in French acronym) and former students GAERG.
The return to Bisesero is part of month long campaign in which the orphans have been traveling to different parts of Rwanda to pay homage to the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsis. They launched the campaign on Saturday March 7, 2015 in Rukumbeli Sector, Ngoma District, eastern Rwanda– where more than 35,000 Tutsis were massacred in just that small area.
Like all stops of the campaign, in Bisesero, activities will include support to vulnerable genocide survivors; especially those wounded, and honour the liberation fighters of the Rwandan Patriotic Army who stopped the genocide.
Survivors handicapped during the genocide, as well as liberation war casualties will be the main focus. They will rehabilitate houses for genocide orphans and widows in that area. All activities for the day will be commenced with laying wreaths on the different memorial sites in the Bisesero region.
What happened in Bisesero from 27 June 1994?
On June 27, 1994, survivors of the carnage and convicted militia say a convoy of military Humvees arrived at a Gishita – a small rural trading centre in what was then Gishyita commune in Kibuye prefecture. Gishita is currently part of Bwishura sector of Karongi district.
French commandos led by Captain Marin Gillier established roadblocks and a military post at a Mabuga centre. The area was base for thousands of Interahamwe militia as focal point in daily preparation of assaults against Tutsis hiding up in the Bisesoro Mountains about two hours’ drive away.
Kabuye prefecture was part of the infamous “Zone Turquoise” covering large sways of western Rwanda. At the very Gishyita centre, around the former communal office, French soldiers had a base and 3 roadblocks – as their own cordon near the Base – and became entry point for militia re-enforcements brought from Cyangugu, and another roadblock on another side (became entry for “re-enforcements” from Kibuye-Ruhengeri-Gisenyi).
French journalist and author Patrick de Saint-Exupéry and a yet unidentified Camerawoman were on the convoy. The French writer had published widely about what he saw, all of which corroborates with accounts of genocide survivors and convicted militias in Rwanda.
The new guests drove up the only route to the Bisesero mountains. On seeing white people, the unsuspecting hundreds of Tutsis came out of their hideouts. They were told by the French soldiers that there was nothing to worry. The militias had stopped attacking the mountains, because the Tutsis were fighting back with stone and anything they could.
Following the visit, the French soldiers returned to back at Gishita – convinced the Tutsis had gone back their homes.
Under organizational command by Sikubwabo Charles, the Gishyita bourgmestre, Mpambara Joseph, several local leaders and the supervision of French soldiers as they just looked on, militia and ex-army were ferried to a ground (around Gishyita centre) – briefed and dispatched for “work”, according to former militia. The two men are still fugitives, with no known location.
After the “briefings”, some militia moved on foot up the mountains and others moved in buses, trucks and French jeeps in numbers which former killers have themselves described as simply “very many”.
On the 3 roadblocks that also had French flags flying and manned by both French soldiers and militias, Tutsis were brought in and killed on spot as French soldiers watched.
The details of what happened in Bisesero have been subject of extensive research. Books and journals by renowned academics have been published. French media and parliamentary delegations have visited the region. Every year, especially during the commemoration period, ordinary French nationals visit Bisesero.
As the massacre went on in the mountains, French soldiers manned the roadblocks – opened up for vehicles carrying militias – trained some militia at a nearby bush – supplied guns and bombs to the marauding killers – raped girls and often “enjoyed” beers with Sikubwabo at one of the killer’s bar – some few meters away.
French soldiers used military telescopes as they viewed the militia “working”. However, the Basesero – despite the starvation, the cold – tried to fight off them off.