1994 Rwandan genocide testimony by Agripine Tuyizere

Agripine Tuyizere, a boy from Rwesero Sector, Commune Masango in Gitarama Prefecture, describes how her neighborhood was attacked on April 13, 1994 by men wielding guns. Residents fought using sticks and stones, but were easily overpowered. They tried to seek refugee among the Twa, but were beaten. She tells how Tutsi were beaten by civilians everywhere they went. Some of the perpetrators rounded up children and drown them in the river. Mothers who resisted were beaten and parents had to start bribing gang leaders to save their children. One night in hiding, babies started crying and attracted the killers. Her group sought refuge at Byimana, but were beaten and chase away, forcing them to seek refuge at Kabgayi. The refugees were constantly attacked and many were killed including Agripine's father. Militia checked identification cards to determine whether a person Hutu or Tutsi. During one attack, Agripine's sister was badly slashed and left to die. Agripine later searched for her, found her alive, and hid in a school with other refugees. They were very hungry and she sold one of her skirts for 50FRW to buy cassava flour. The Interahamwe cut the water supply to the school to force the refugees out, then attacked and killed them. There was cholera outbreak in the school that claimed many lives, including Agripine's sister. Agripine was captured several times and either was able to escape or was rescued. Once when captured, she was tortured and whipped with a belt. She concludes her testimony with the names of her close relatives and people she knew and how each was killed. She also briefly describes Tutsi life in rural Rwanda during the genocide.