Jean-Baptiste Habyalimana

Jean-Baptiste Habyalimana (also spelled Habyarimana)[1] (1950[2]–1994) was the prefect of Butare in Rwanda who was killed during the Rwandan genocide in 1994.[3] He was the only Tutsi prefect at the time of the genocide, and also the only prefect belonging to the Liberal Party.[4] He had resisted the genocide. Agnès Ntamabyaliro Rutagwera was implicated in arranging his murder.[5]

Resistance and death

Habyalimana tried to resist the genocide in his prefecture, and refused to meet with the new interim government in Kigali on 11 April. Habyalimana put a temporary stop to the killing at Cyahinda church in Nyakizu commune on 17 April by his appearance.[4] However, when driving back to Butare town that night, Radio Rwanda announced Habyalimana's dismissal as prefect on the 8 p.m. news.[6] Habyalimana was present at the inauguration of the new prefect on the morning of 19 April in Butare town,[6] but he soon went into hiding and evaded capture for weeks. He was eventually imprisoned and sent to the headquarters of the national government in Gitarama where he was executed. His wife and two daughters were also killed at a later time.[7]

References
  1. Des Forges, Alison (March 1999). Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda – Extending the Genocide. New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 1-56432-171-1. Note that the prefect spelled his name with the letter “l,” while the president used “r.” In kinyarwanda, the sounds are nearly interchangable [sic].
  2. Unity Club. "The 17 protectors of friendship pact 'Abarinzi b'Igihango'". www.unity-club.org. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  3. "Rwanda genocide convictions overturned". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
  4. Des Forges, Alison (March 1999). Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda – Nyakizu: The Massacres. New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 1-56432-171-1.
  5. Agnes Ntamabyariro, TRIAL International, Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  6. Des Forges, Alison (March 1999). Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda – Butare: "Let them stand aside for us and Let us work". New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 1-56432-171-1.
  7. Des Forges, Alison (March 1999). Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda – Butare: "Workers who want to work for their country". New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 1-56432-171-1.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.