{"id":2437,"date":"2022-05-07T17:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-07T17:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fezaa.com\/?p=2437"},"modified":"2025-04-16T18:03:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T18:03:19","slug":"nyamagabe-genocide-survivors-hope-to-get-peace-of-mind-from-bucyibarutas-trial-in-france","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fezaa.com\/?p=2437","title":{"rendered":"Nyamagabe: genocide survivors hope to get peace of mind from Bucyibaruta\u2019s trial in France"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in the former Gikongoro Prefecture are hoping for justice and closure as the trial of Laurent Bucyibaruta begins on May 9, 2022, at the Paris Assize Court.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Justice as a Path to Healing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hildebrand Niyomwungeri, Mayor of Nyamagabe District, expressed the significance of the trial:
“Justice gives peace of mind,”<\/em> he said, adding that Bucyibaruta\u2019s tenure as prefect tarnished the image of the administration in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nyamagabe, one of the areas most devastated by the genocide, is home to three major genocide memorials\u2014Murambi, Cyanika, and Kaduha\u2014which collectively hold the remains of approximately 130,000 victims. These atrocities occurred during Bucyibaruta\u2019s reign.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Survivors\u2019 Painful Memories<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phoebe Mukamudenge, a survivor and widow of the genocide, recalls a chilling statement attributed to Bucyibaruta:
“When you want to eradicate quackgrass, you collect and burn it so that it will never grow again in the farm.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mukamudenge expressed relief at the trial, stating that Bucyibaruta and his associates must answer for their actions, which she described as scandalous to Rwandan society. She also pointed to other figures involved in the genocide, including Denis Kamodoka, the chief of the tea plant, and Nteziryayo, the Bourgmestre of Mudasomwa Commune.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Murambi Massacre<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remy Kamugire, Vice President of Ibuka in Nyamagabe District, recounted the swift and systematic killings at Murambi, now a genocide memorial site containing the remains of over 50,000 victims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kamugire described the events leading up to the massacre:
“On Tuesday, April 19, 1994, interim President Theodore Sindikubwabo held a meeting with administrative leaders in Gikongoro. Two days later, on April 21, the main assault began. Soldiers, Interahamwe militia, policemen, and Hutus from surrounding communes attacked and killed approximately 50,000 Tutsi at Murambi.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The killings continued at Cyanika Parish, where around 30,000 Tutsi were murdered, and at Kaduha, where over 40,000 were killed\u2014all within a single day. Kamugire emphasized the importance of the trial in delivering justice and providing peace of mind to survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serious Charges<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laurent Bucyibaruta, born in 1944, served as prefect of Gikongoro from July 1992 to 1994. He is accused of direct and public incitement to commit genocide, complicity in genocide, and crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, and rape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Known as the “Butcher of Gikongoro,” Bucyibaruta allegedly played a key role in planning and ordering massacres at various locations, including places of worship and schools. As an active member of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND) and head of the Interahamwe militia, he is accused of orchestrating the killings in the area under his control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trial, scheduled to run from May 9 to July 1, 2022, at the Paris Criminal Court (Cour d\u2019Assises<\/em>), represents a critical step in holding Bucyibaruta accountable for his actions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in the former Gikongoro Prefecture are hoping for justice and closure as … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-justice-rights","latest_post"],"yoast_head":"\nNyamagabe: genocide survivors hope to get peace of mind from Bucyibaruta\u2019s trial in France - FEZAA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fezaa.com\/?p=2437\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Nyamagabe: genocide survivors hope to get peace of mind from Bucyibaruta\u2019s trial in France - 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