In the previous article, we saw how the oppressive policies of the MDR-PARMEHUTU party sparked opposition by armed means. This is how the Inyenzi armed group was born. In this piece, we will see more about the group and its effects. From 1961, small-scale attacks happened along the Rwandan borders especially in the former Byumba territory in the northeastern part of the country. All the attacks were not necessarily carried out by the Inyenzi. Other groups made incursions in the country to steal cattle or money. It was in Byumba territory that reprisal attacks against the Tutsi were carried out by the Rwandan government of the time. Nearly a thousand Tutsi and Hutu members of the UNAR party were killed under such conditions. At the time the Ministry of Interior and the National Guard developed and tried the idea of self-defence for the population. It was done by ordering the population to report suspicious people and carry out night patrols. Firearms were distributed to some individuals living near the border. These practices were repeatedly done until 1964. Large scale attacks involving a lot of fighters aimed at gaining territory from which the Inyenzi could launch attacks happened against the government of Rwanda in order to pressurize it to consider the grievances of the refugees. In the north-west volcanoes it started in the night of July 3-4, 1962, two days after independence. That attack started from Goma and was made up of 80-100 Inyenzi fighters. The Kigali government was aware of the attack. On July 5, 1962, the assailants were taken by surprise by government troops. They were easily defeated and a large number of fighters died. Four of the Inyenzi captured as prisoners were executed in Ruhengeri. On December 21, 1963, a big attack happened in Bugesera. It originated from Burundi, via Nemba (Kirundo). After some limited success, the Inyenzi were stopped and beaten by the National Guard under the command of two Belgian officers Dubois and Floriquin. It happened near Kigali. Like in the previous case, the government of Rwanda was already aware of the imminent attack. The government got information from different sources. The Inyenzi did not keep their plans secret. They discussed them in bars of Bujumbura, and some even bid farewell to their families. The Belgian military advisors who trained the Burundian army informed Kigali, where the security services were under the control of a Belgian officer called Major Tulpin. Some Hutu soldiers in the Burundian army, private citizens, traders and the clergy and even some of the Rwandan refugees themselves were also among the informers of the government of Rwanda. The Bugesera attacks of 1963-1964 had many repercussions on the Tutsi inside the country. The government and local administration orchestrated a very big campaign of repression against Tutsi of every age in all provinces of Rwanda. Many houses were torched and properties stolen. Anyone in a position of responsibility of whatever category could arrest Tutsi and do whatever they liked without any fear of punishment. Ministers were deployed in all provinces to supervise the operations. The repression was nationwide. Bugesera was one of the most affected regions. Like elsewhere, the administrative authorities compiled lists of Tutsi considered to be “bad” or “undesirable.” Those mainly targeted were teachers, former chiefs and assistant chiefs, and traders. After reprisal attacks, Hutu families, especially from Ruhengeri and Gisenyi were settled in Bugesera by the government in order to contain the Inyenzi attacks and control the survivors. Some accounts of the events describe the Inyenzi as a collection of ethnically Tutsi exiles who were affiliated with the Rwandan political party Rwandese National Union (UNAR), which had supported Rwanda's deposed Tutsi monarchy. According to such accounts, Inyenzi opposed Rwanda's transformation upon independence. Such writings portray the wrong perception of the history of Rwanda. The Belgian trusteeship authority manipulated the independence procedures to their convenience. Inyenzi were not ethnically Tutsi exiles as we saw because Rukeba, the UNAR leader and Inyenzi supporter, was not a Tutsi. This was the case for many others. They were nationalists. Supporting the king meant to support Rwanda nation-state from its inception. It was for all Rwandans and not for either Hutu, Tutsi or Twa. These categories were manipulated by Belgian colonialists, who called them ethnicities, contrary to the anthropological definition of ethnicity. The next piece in the series will be “Aluta continua”. The effects of the armed struggle and its repercussions will be realized.
