Mass graves unearthed in Rwanda three decades after the genocide

Authorities and a survivors’ organization have announced the discovery of the remains of numerous victims of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda’s Huye district. According to Goretti Uwonkunda, a member of the excavation committee, more than 180 body parts have been unearthed from burial pits in Ngoma village.

This finding follows the previous discovery of 119 bodies in the same village. The genocide, which lasted for 100 days, resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Roadblocks were set up, and individuals were pulled from their vehicles and killed in Ngoma, where mass graves have now been found.

Some Rwandan nationals accused of involvement in the genocide are currently facing trial abroad after evading justice for many years. Notably, Sosthene Munyemana, a former gynecologist, was convicted of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, receiving a 24-year prison sentence.

Additionally, Seraphin Twahirwa, a former Rwandan militia leader, was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Brussels court for his direct participation in the atrocities committed by Hutu militiamen in Kigali during the mass killings.

According to IBUKA, Rwanda has exhumed more than 100,000 bodies in the past five years. In a recent discovery, the remains of over 1,000 individuals believed to be victims of the genocide were found in mass graves on a Catholic parish plantation in Rusizi.

Ahishakiye, the leader of IBUKA, expressed concerns that there may be more undiscovered mass graves throughout the country, as survivors continue to search for their loved ones even after 30 years since the genocide. In response, the mayor of Huye district, Ange Sebutege, has urged locals to provide any information that could help locate the bodies of the victims, ensuring that they receive a proper burial.

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