Kwibuka Timeline - April 9, 1994: France evacuates citizens amid escalating Tutsi massacres

April 9, 1994 remains etched in Rwanda's history as a dark day, marked by the departure of some of the key players in the events that led up to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, while the country descended into chaos and bloodshed. It is on this day that Agathe Kanziga, Habyarimana's wife, and other family members left Rwanda, having played a central role in organising killings that would engulf Rwanda for a period spanning three months. Others said to have been evacuated on the same day include key genocide financier and notorius Akazu stalwart Felicien Kabuga. The day was also characterised by the launch of a French-led operation, codenamed 'Amaryllis', aimed at evacuating French and other foreign nationals from Rwanda. ALSO READ: Timeline: April 7, 1994; Genocide spreads across the country The operation unfolded between April 9-12 amidst widespread massacres throughout the country. French forces refrained from intervening to halt the atrocities unfolding before their eyes, particularly around Kanombe airport and along the road leading to the city centre. Many victims were left at the mercy of the killers, with Tutsi attempting to seek refuge being forcibly removed from French military vehicles and subsequently executed at roadblocks. The French-led evacuation prioritised certain individuals over others, with Europeans forced to abandon their Tutsi spouses and children, while the French Embassy extended refuge to members of the Rwandan regime's inner circle. ALSO READ: Timeline - April 8: President Sindikubwabo’s govt incites community, killings intensify On April 9, Habyarimana's family and key Hutu extremists, complicit in the genocide against the Tutsi, were airlifted to Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, and subsequently transferred to Paris. Notably, among those evacuated was Félicien Kabuga, a prominent figure instrumental in orchestrating the genocide. The ensuing government, formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Jean Kambanda, served as a tool for coordinating and perpetuating the genocide nationwide. Meanwhile, the international community, including UN observers, bore witness to the massacre of Tutsi seeking refuge at various locations, underscoring the extent of the brutality unfolding in Rwanda. The events of April 9, 1994, further unfolded in a series of mass massacres targeting Tutsi refugees across different regions of Rwanda, with the Interahamwe militias and government forces executing thousands of innocent civilians, leaving a trail of devastation and despair.

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Kwibuka Timeline - April 9, 1994: France evacuates citizens amid escalating Tutsi massacres