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1/12
#Kwibuka26 On 11 April 1994, a total of 97 Belgian peacekeepers based at ETO Kicukiro were ordered to fly back home, leaving over 2,000 refugees at the mercy of the marauding militia.
1/12
#Kwibuka26 On 11 April 1994, a total of 97 Belgian peacekeepers based at ETO Kicukiro were ordered to fly back home, leaving over 2,000 refugees at the mercy of the marauding militia.
2/12
#Kwibuka26 when the Genocide began on 7 April 1994, thousands of Tutsis from various corners of Kicukiro neighbourhoods sought refuge at former Kicukiro Technical School known as ETO.
#Kwibuka26 when the Genocide began on 7 April 1994, thousands of Tutsis from various corners of Kicukiro neighbourhoods sought refuge at former Kicukiro Technical School known as ETO.
3/12
#Kwibuka26 ETO-Kicukiro, the school was a base of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) peacekeeping forces; the refugees thought that the forces would protect them.
#Kwibuka26 ETO-Kicukiro, the school was a base of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) peacekeeping forces; the refugees thought that the forces would protect them.
4/12
#Kwibuka26 Following the killing of 10 Belgian peacekeepers that were part of the UNAMIR, the peacekeeping troops received orders to leave Rwanda. Regardless of the tension that had built up as Interahamwe surrounded ETO Kicukiro, the UN troops there also decided to leave.
#Kwibuka26 Following the killing of 10 Belgian peacekeepers that were part of the UNAMIR, the peacekeeping troops received orders to leave Rwanda. Regardless of the tension that had built up as Interahamwe surrounded ETO Kicukiro, the UN troops there also decided to leave.
5/12
#Kwibuka26 A select group amongst the refugees pleaded vainly with the troops commander to stay, to protect them from Interahamwe militia and genocidal government soldiers ..
#Kwibuka26 A select group amongst the refugees pleaded vainly with the troops commander to stay, to protect them from Interahamwe militia and genocidal government soldiers ..
6/12
#Kwibuka26 The terrified refugees knelt in front of the vehicles, pleading with them to stay. But the troops shot in the air and drove off in their jeeps. Their departure coincided with the arrival of the genocidal government forces and more Interahamwe militia.
#Kwibuka26 The terrified refugees knelt in front of the vehicles, pleading with them to stay. But the troops shot in the air and drove off in their jeeps. Their departure coincided with the arrival of the genocidal government forces and more Interahamwe militia.
7/12
#Kwibuka26 Their departure was simultaneous with the entry of Interahamwe militia and genocidal government soldiers.
#Kwibuka26 Their departure was simultaneous with the entry of Interahamwe militia and genocidal government soldiers.
8/12
#Kwibuka26 The latter took the refugees to Sonatube where then Mayor of Kigali City, Lt Col Tharcisse Renzaho ordered that they instead be taken to Nyanza Hill & killed there because Sonatube was too visible as it is along the road to the airport. Nyanza was a secluded area.
#Kwibuka26 The latter took the refugees to Sonatube where then Mayor of Kigali City, Lt Col Tharcisse Renzaho ordered that they instead be taken to Nyanza Hill & killed there because Sonatube was too visible as it is along the road to the airport. Nyanza was a secluded area.
10/12
#Kwibuka26 Mass killings then began , the militia shot and threw grenades in the crowd before using machetes to finish off those of us who were still alive.
#Kwibuka26 Mass killings then began , the militia shot and threw grenades in the crowd before using machetes to finish off those of us who were still alive.
11/12
#Kwibuka26 Many of them were killed using machetes. The next morning, as the killers attempted to finish off those who were still alive, the Rwandan Patriotic Army #Inkotanyi soldiers arrived and rescued the few who had survived the massacre.
#Kwibuka26 Many of them were killed using machetes. The next morning, as the killers attempted to finish off those who were still alive, the Rwandan Patriotic Army #Inkotanyi soldiers arrived and rescued the few who had survived the massacre.
12/12
#Kwibuka26 The ETO-Nyanza Kicukiro commemoration signifies failure and cowardice of the International Community. UNAMIR was there when the Interahamwe militia surrounded former ETO-Kicukiro and all they did was to abandon the people in time of need.
#Kwibuka26 The ETO-Nyanza Kicukiro commemoration signifies failure and cowardice of the International Community. UNAMIR was there when the Interahamwe militia surrounded former ETO-Kicukiro and all they did was to abandon the people in time of need.
