On the fourth day of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi (April 10), the role of the church in supporting the genocidal regime became increasingly evident. Rather than speaking out against the atrocities, catholic clerics chose to align themselves with the government that was behind the mass killings. ALSO READ: How districts are marking 100 days of Genocide commemoration Bishop Thaddée Nsengiyumva of Kabgayi, in a statement published in Osservatore Romano, a Catholic Church journal, expressed sorrow over the death of President Juvénal Habyarimana and said he was shocked bythe number of assassinations perpetrated since that day. However, he failed to condemn the systematic massacres of the Tutsi, vaguely referring to the unfolding genocide as mere disturbances. He went further to declare his support for the ex-Rwandan Armed Forces (ex-FAR), without acknowledging their active role in the killings. On April 10, churches across Rwanda became hunting grounds for killers. For example, at Gahanga Church, located in the Gahanga suburb of Kigali, local authorities and members of the Interahamwe ordered Hutus inside the church to leave, deliberately isolating the Tutsi who had sought refuge there since April 8. Once the Hutus were gone, the attackers stormed the church. The Tutsi resisted and initially managed to repel the Interahamwe. However, their efforts were short-lived, as government soldiers soon arrived with more powerful weapons. A large number of Tutsi were killed in the attack. Today, Gahanga Church stands as a genocide memorial, holding the remains of more than 7,000 victims. ALSO READ: Kwibuka 31: ‘I pretended to be dead until RPA arrived and rescued me’ – genocide survivor In Karambi, Kayonza District, a similar massacre took place at a local Catholic church in Rwinkeke locality. Tutsi who had fled there were brutally killed by local Hutu extremists, aided by the Interahamwe. The victims' bodies were discarded into pits dug near the church. The killings were led by Appolinaire Gahirwa, who was later convicted of genocide. Other killings took place at Nyarubuye Parish in Rusumo organised by bourgmestre (mayor) Sylvestre Gacumbitsi. Zaza church in Kibungo district also experienced the onslaught of the killers as more than 1,000 Tutsi were slaughtered there. The worst massacre of the day happened at Kiziguro Parish organised by Jean-Baptiste Gatete, the bourgmestre (mayor) of Murambi. Here, between 3,500 to 3,700 Tutsi were slaughtered. ALSO READ: April 9, 1994: As Tutsi killings rage, France evacuates citizens, Akazu members Meanwhile, on the same day, the French government continued evacuating its citizens to Paris, alongside various government officials. The day also saw the evacuation of 94 orphans (mostly children of ex-FAR soldiers) from Sainte-Agathe orphanage, a facility sponsored by Agathe Kanziga, wife of the late president, Juvenal Habyarimana. Accompanying them were 34 individuals, whose identities were not disclosed.
