April 30, 1994: Coordinated killings of Tutsi intensify across Gisenyi, Cyangugu, Butare and other regions

By The Inspirer.

April 30, 1994 marked the 24th day of the 100-day genocide against the Tutsi, as mass killings continued across different parts of Rwanda under the extremist interim government.

In Gisenyi (now Rubavu District), violence escalated amid long-standing anti-Tutsi ideology that had been reinforced for years through propaganda and political incitement. Publications such as Kangura, edited by Hassan Ngeze—one of the founders of CDR—played a central role in spreading hate narratives that fuelled the killings.

During the genocide, thousands of Tutsi were murdered in Gisenyi, many in their homes or taken to designated killing sites, including pits prepared at the local cemetery. On April 30, 1994, a vehicle moved through the town broadcasting messages falsely claiming that peace had been restored and urging those in hiding to come out. Many who responded were instead taken to “Komine Rouge,” where they were killed.

In Cyangugu (now Rusizi District), massacres continued at Mibilizi Parish, where an estimated 8,000 Tutsi had sought refuge with their livestock. Even survivors of earlier attacks were later tracked down and killed as violence spread into church compounds and surrounding areas.

In Butare (now Huye District), killings were carried out at Ngoma Catholic Parish, where large numbers of Tutsi—including children, youth, and adults displaced from nearby areas such as Matyazo and Ngoma—had sought protection. Following coordinated attacks by soldiers and Interahamwe militia, the site became another major killing ground.

In Bugesera, atrocities were reported in marshland areas around Ntarama, where Tutsi were trapped and attacked by militias and soldiers mobilised from multiple locations, including nearby military camps and administrative centres. The coordinated assaults left those seeking refuge in wetlands with little chance of survival.

Across these regions, the events of April 30, 1994 illustrate the continued nationwide execution of the genocide, underscoring its systematic nature and the coordination behind attacks targeting the Tutsi population.