Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) has launched a manhunt for the person responsible for the murder of Madeleine Mujawayezu, a staff member of Kamonyi District administration. According to RIB spokesperson Thierry Murangira, the investigation is ongoing and no suspect has been arrested yet. Mujawayezu was found dead in her home by local police on Thursday, March 30, after she was reported missing by her son and co-workers. She had not shown up for work that day, which raised concerns among her colleagues. As a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Mujawayezu had previously lost her husband and was raising their child alone. Her murder occurred less than two weeks before the 29th commemoration week of the genocide. In recent years, violent acts targeting survivors and their properties have been reported in the lead up to the commemoration period, known as Kwibuka. While some of these cases have been sparked by genocide ideology, it is not yet clear whether Mujawayezu's murder was linked to her status as a survivor. Philbert Gakwenzire, president of IBUKA, the umbrella organization of survivors, stated that some survivors face acts of violence in the lead up to Kwibuka, including damage to their properties by unknown individuals. However, he emphasized that the motive for Mujawayezu's murder is still unknown. The case of a woman survivor who was slain in Kamonyi District is still under investigation, Gakwenzire said. We cannot confirm yet whether her murderer targeted her because she was a survivor.
