April 22, 1994 marked the 16th day of the 100-day Genocide against the Tutsi, as killings escalated across the country under the orchestration of the genocidal regime.
In Huye, thousands of Tutsi who had fled from surrounding communes including Mbazi, Maraba, Ngoma, Matyazo and parts of former Gikongoro gathered at the commune offices seeking refuge. They were surrounded for three days by soldiers and gendarmes, cut off from water and food, and subjected to extreme suffering before being killed.
On that day alone, more than 35,000 Tutsi were massacred in Huye. Some victims were burned using fuel, their remains later recovered and accorded dignified burial after the genocide. Today, over 42,000 victims are laid to rest at the genocide memorial in the area.
In Kigali, Interahamwe militias killed Tutsi men who had taken refuge at the Centre d’Études des Langues Africaines (CELA), located near the Saint Paul Pastoral Centre below Sainte Famille Church.
Mass killings were also reported at the Benedictine convent in Sovu and its health centre, where Tutsi who had sought refuge were attacked and killed.
In Gisagara District, particularly in Kansi Sector and around Lake Cyamwakizi, many Tutsi—most of them from Huye, Nyaruguru, Nyamagabe and surrounding areas—were also massacred.
On Nzaratsi Hill, Tutsi attempted to resist using stones, bows and other rudimentary weapons, but were eventually overwhelmed and killed.
Other killings were reported on Bibare Hill (Bunyonga) in Kamonyi District and on Kabakobwa Hill in Huye District, where large numbers of victims were also murdered.
The events of April 22, 1994 stand among the most tragic episodes of the genocide, reflecting the scale, coordination and brutality of the massacres carried out against Tutsi across Rwanda.
