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  • Kigali, Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The assassination of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana

    Kigali, Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994

    The genocide was organised by members of the core Hutu political elite, many of whom occupied positions at top levels of the national government. Most historians agree that a genocide against the Tutsi had been planned for at least a year. However the assassination of Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana on 6 April 1994 created a power vacuum and ended peace accords. Genocidal killings began the following day when soldiers, police, and militia executed key Tutsi and moderate Hutu military and political leaders.




  • Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    A Crisis Committee

    Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994

    Following Habyarimana's death, on the evening of 6 April, a crisis committee was formed; it consisted of Major General Augustin Ndindiliyimana, Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, and a number of other senior army staff officers. The committee was headed by Bagosora, despite the presence of the more senior Ndindiliyimana. Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana was legally next in the line of political succession, but the committee refused to recognise her authority. Roméo Dallaire met with the committee that night and insisted that Uwilingiyimana be placed in charge, but Bagosora refused, saying Uwilingiyimana did not "enjoy the confidence of the Rwandan people" and was "incapable of governing the nation". The committee also justified its existence as being essential to avoid uncertainty following the president's death. Bagosora sought to convince UNAMIR and the RPF that the committee was acting to contain the Presidential Guard, which he described as "out of control", and that it would abide by the Arusha agreement.




  • Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    Paul Kagame warned the crisis committee and UNAMIR that he would resume the civil war if the killing did not stop

    Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994

    On 7 April, as the genocide started, RPF (the Rwandan Patriotic Front) commander Paul Kagame warned the crisis committee and UNAMIR that he would resume the civil war if the killing did not stop.




  • Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The ICTR prosecution was unable to prove that a conspiracy to commit genocide

    Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994

    The ICTR (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) prosecution was unable to prove that a conspiracy to commit genocide existed prior to 7 April 1994.




  • Gikondo, Rwanda
    Saturday Apr 9, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The massacre of children

    Gikondo, Rwanda
    Saturday Apr 9, 1994

    On 9 April, UN observers witnessed the massacre of children at a Polish church in Gikondo.




  • Kigali, Rwanda
    Monday Apr 11, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The Official Technical School

    Kigali, Rwanda
    Monday Apr 11, 1994

    Thousands sought refuge in the Official Technical School (École Technique Officielle) in Kigali where Belgian UNAMIR soldiers were stationed. On 11 April, the Belgian soldiers withdrew, and Rwandan armed forces and militia killed all the Tutsi.




  • Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The Belgian government announced that it was withdrawing

    Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994

    On 12 April, the Belgian government, which was one of the largest troop contributors to UNAMIR, and had lost ten soldiers protecting Prime Minister Uwilingiliyimana, announced that it was withdrawing, reducing the force's effectiveness even further.


  • Nyange, Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    Nyarubuye massacre

    Nyange, Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994

    One such massacre occurred at Nyarubuye. On 12 April, more than 1,500 Tutsis sought refuge in a Catholic church in Nyange, then in Kivumu commune.


  • Kigali, Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The assassination of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana

    Kigali, Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994

    The genocide was organised by members of the core Hutu political elite, many of whom occupied positions at top levels of the national government. Most historians agree that a genocide against the Tutsi had been planned for at least a year. However the assassination of Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana on 6 April 1994 created a power vacuum and ended peace accords. Genocidal killings began the following day when soldiers, police, and militia executed key Tutsi and moderate Hutu military and political leaders.


  • Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    A Crisis Committee

    Rwanda
    Wednesday Apr 6, 1994

    Following Habyarimana's death, on the evening of 6 April, a crisis committee was formed; it consisted of Major General Augustin Ndindiliyimana, Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, and a number of other senior army staff officers. The committee was headed by Bagosora, despite the presence of the more senior Ndindiliyimana. Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana was legally next in the line of political succession, but the committee refused to recognise her authority. Roméo Dallaire met with the committee that night and insisted that Uwilingiyimana be placed in charge, but Bagosora refused, saying Uwilingiyimana did not "enjoy the confidence of the Rwandan people" and was "incapable of governing the nation". The committee also justified its existence as being essential to avoid uncertainty following the president's death. Bagosora sought to convince UNAMIR and the RPF that the committee was acting to contain the Presidential Guard, which he described as "out of control", and that it would abide by the Arusha agreement.


  • Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    Paul Kagame warned the crisis committee and UNAMIR that he would resume the civil war if the killing did not stop

    Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994

    On 7 April, as the genocide started, RPF (the Rwandan Patriotic Front) commander Paul Kagame warned the crisis committee and UNAMIR that he would resume the civil war if the killing did not stop.


  • Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The ICTR prosecution was unable to prove that a conspiracy to commit genocide

    Rwanda
    Thursday Apr 7, 1994

    The ICTR (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) prosecution was unable to prove that a conspiracy to commit genocide existed prior to 7 April 1994.


  • Gikondo, Rwanda
    Saturday Apr 9, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The massacre of children

    Gikondo, Rwanda
    Saturday Apr 9, 1994

    On 9 April, UN observers witnessed the massacre of children at a Polish church in Gikondo.


  • Kigali, Rwanda
    Monday Apr 11, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The Official Technical School

    Kigali, Rwanda
    Monday Apr 11, 1994

    Thousands sought refuge in the Official Technical School (École Technique Officielle) in Kigali where Belgian UNAMIR soldiers were stationed. On 11 April, the Belgian soldiers withdrew, and Rwandan armed forces and militia killed all the Tutsi.


  • Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    The Belgian government announced that it was withdrawing

    Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994

    On 12 April, the Belgian government, which was one of the largest troop contributors to UNAMIR, and had lost ten soldiers protecting Prime Minister Uwilingiliyimana, announced that it was withdrawing, reducing the force's effectiveness even further.


  • Nyange, Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994
    Rwandan genocide

    Nyarubuye massacre

    Nyange, Rwanda
    Tuesday Apr 12, 1994

    One such massacre occurred at Nyarubuye. On 12 April, more than 1,500 Tutsis sought refuge in a Catholic church in Nyange, then in Kivumu commune.


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