April 30, 1994 marked the 24th day of the 100-day genocide against the Tutsi, as mass killings continued in several parts of Rwanda under the extremist interim government.
In the northwestern region of Gisenyi (now Rubavu District), killings intensified amid long-standing anti-Tutsi sentiment fuelled by years of propaganda and political incitement. Publications such as Kangura, edited by Hassan Ngeze—one of the founders of CDR—played a key role in spreading hate narratives that contributed to the violence in the area.
During the genocide, thousands of Tutsi were killed in Gisenyi, many in their homes or taken to mass killing sites, including pits prepared at the local cemetery. On April 30, 1994, a vehicle drove through the town broadcasting messages falsely claiming that peace had returned and urging those in hiding to come out. Many who responded were instead taken and killed at “Komine Rouge.”
In Cyangugu (now Rusizi District), massacres continued at Mibilizi Parish, where an estimated 8,000 Tutsi had sought refuge alongside their livestock. Even those who had survived earlier attacks were later hunted down and killed as violence spread to church compounds and surrounding areas.
In Butare (now Huye District), killings took place 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 zones. The coordinated assaults left those seeking refuge in wetlands with little chance of survival.
Across these regions, April 30, 1994 reflects the continued nationwide execution of the genocide, underscoring its systematic nature and the widespread coordination of attacks targeting the Tutsi population.
