1994 Rwandan genocide testimony by Irène Nishimwe

Irène Nishimwe, a girl from Cellule Buha, Rutagara Sector of Commune Mukingi in Gitarama Prefecture, explains how Interahamwe first took away her family's livestock, then came the next day to destroy and burn homes while her family hid in the bushes. Later, an order was given that her family together with other Tutsi in the neighborhood had to go to Kabuga where they were locked in a house ready to be burnt alive. They were released after several days in captivity and escaped to Rugeramigozi. She came across many people who had been killed including some of her schoolmates.Once more she got arrested together with the people she was fleeing with and are held captive in a house for a week. She was tortured and witnessed some Tutsi being thrown alive into pit latrines. On being released they escape to Ngendombi before reaching Kabgayi. At Kabgayi they came across a roadblock where police tortured them and undressed others. After a day at the roadblock, she was ordered to go and take her crying sibling who was next to the body of her dead mother. It is only after taking the crying baby that she was allowed to join other refugees hiding in institutions around Kabgayi. She finally got liberated by RPF Inkotanyi on 2nd June 1994.