Background
Inyenzi attack
On 21 December 1963, 200–300 Inyenzi armed with rifles, spears and arrows, and claiming affiliation with UNAR, cross the border from Burundi and attacked the Rwandan military in camp in Gako, Bugesera.[1]
Repression and atrocities
On 23 December the Rwandan regime moved to purge moderate Hutu politicians. Many of them—including Kayibanda's own uncle, Michel Rwagasana, a member of parliament and secretary general of UNAR—were detained and taken to Ruhengeri. Over the course of the night they were tortured and early the following morning they were brought to Nyamagumba hill and executed under the supervision of a Belgian officer, Major Turpin.[2]
Aftermath
Public criticism and national impact
In March Kayibanda delivered a speech in which he said of the attacks, "Assuming the impossible, that you eventually take over Kigali, how can you measure the chaos of which you will be the first victims? Understand this: It would be the total and precipitated end of the Tutsi race. Who is Genocide?"[1]
Academic analysis
Estimates of the death toll of civilians in the repression reach to a high of 35,000.[1]
References
- ^ a b c Kimonyo, Jean-Paul (24 March 2014). "'Qui est génocide?' or 'Who is genocide?'". The New Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ Gasana, Vincent (26 December 2018). "The massacre of innocents, Rwanda 1963". The New Times. Retrieved 28 April 2021.