Liberation: RPF’s 600 troops inside Habyarimana’s parliamentary buildings, how events unfloded…

Author: Samson Kasujja

• 2023-07-01 05:19:00

Following the signing of the Arusha Peace Agreement on August 4, 1993, between then Government of Rwanda led by Juvénal Habyarimana and the Rwandese Patriotic Front, the latter sent its politicians and a protection unit comprising 600 troops to Kigali for implementation of that peace agreement.

Arriving in Kigali on October 28, 1993, the politicians and troops were accommodated in the Parliamentary buildings (former CND) under the protection of the then UN mission in Rwanda (MINUAR).

The Arusha accords aimed at establishing the Broad-Based Transitional Government which would see RPF members in government institutions.

The Transitional Institutions had to be set up within 37 days following the signing of the Peace Agreement.

Unfortunately, the genocidal government failed to comply with the Agreement, and on January 5, 1994, Habyarimana was sworn in as President.

Violence escalated nationwide, mainly targeting the Tutsi.

After the clashing of the Falcon 50 plane carrying Habyarimana in the night of April 6, 1994; the Tutsi were massively killed by Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi militia, army, gendarmes and Police.

The CND, where RPF’s politicians and 600 troops were, became the main target of Habyarimana’s forces especially the presidential guards.

The people inside sought safety in the CND basement during shelling which was increasing. The buildings’ blocks were heavily smashed by bombs.

Worse still, the genocidal government switched off power and water supply to CND.

On April 7, around 3:00pm, Gen Paul Kagame who was leading the RPF, ordered the troops to break out of their initial positions in CND to defend themselves and rescue people in the neighborhood.

Eagle company advanced towards Remera to rescue people who sought refuge in Amahoro stadium, while Charlie company advanced towards the genocidal regime’s presidential guards who were attacking from Camp Kacyiru and Camp Kami.

All the four companies continued attacks until reinforcements of other RPA battalions arrived from the north on April 11.

After linking with forces from north, RPA captured Mount Rebero on April 12 and opened the CND-Kicukiro-Nyanza-Rebero corridor.

Mount Rebero was not only a dominating feature in the capital, but also the base of elite FAR artillery positions. It was the jewel in the crown of the genocidal army. Attacks by RPA to rescue civilians went on in different neighborhoods of Kigali as well as capturing strongholds of genocidal forces.

From April 11 to May 20, Bravo Company led the battle to capture Mount Jali.

On the night of May 22, 1994, Camp Kanombe and Kanombe Airport were captured. Kanombe was the genocidal government army’s main logistics base and home to Special Forces, and its capture meant cutting off vital military supplies to other FAR positions.

Mount Kigali was also captured after RPA attacked it from different directions at around 6a.m on July 4, 1994, dislodging FAR from the hugely strategic terrain around 10a.m the same day.

Mount Kigali was the base of FAR’s long-range artillery and it was instrumental in the genocidal forces holding onto other positions like Camp Kigali.

While the fighting at Mount Kigali lasted for about five hours, the RPA had gradually weakened the base, following the capture of several other key military installations in and around the city.

On July 4, RPA effectively liberated the capital city.