The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 was an extremely painful period in the history of Rwanda, when around 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu people were killed by Hutu extremist forces The civil war which started in 1990 led to the killings, and a series of massacres which began in April, 1994, and continued until July that year. The international community, who had been aware of the increasing violence, failed to take effective steps to stop it. The sheer brutality of the killings, and the sheer number of people killed in a very short period of time, shocked the world and raised serious questions about the nature of international response to such atrocities.
The Rwandan Genocide showed the courage of many individuals who risked their lives to protect and help their fellow citizens. Below are five examples of people who demonstrated great courage during the Rwandan Genocide.
1. Father Thomas Nahimana – Father Thomas was a Catholic priest who hid and offered safety to a group of Tutsi refugees on the grounds of his parish in Kigali. With the help of his parishioners, he managed to provide them with food and shelter and protected them from the violence until the war was over. Father Thomas was praised for his courageous and selfless acts, and was awarded the Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1993.
2. Rosamond Halsey Carr – Rosamond Halsey Carr was an American who had lived in Rwanda for over 60 years with her husband. When the genocide started, she risked her life to help dozens of Tutsi refugees. She provided them with food, clothing, and shelter in her home, and even helped them find safe places to stay. Rosamond was subsequently awarded the National Civilian Service Medal by the government of the United States in recognition of her courage.
3. Father Vincent Machozi – Father Vincent was a Catholic priest and an outspoken Human Rights defender in Rwanda. He risked his life to stand up to the extremist forces and protect innocent people, particularly the Tutsi population. He was subsequently killed in 1997 by government-backed militias, but his courage and selfless nature will remain as an example to future generations.
4. Paul Rusesabagina – Paul Rusesabagina was a hotel manager during the Rwandan Genocide. He managed to save over 1,200 Tutsi people from the violence by providing them with shelter and protection in the Hotel that he managed. His courageous acts were recounted in the movie Hotel Rwanda, and he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the US government for his heroic act.
5. Charles Mugesera – Charles Mugesera was a professor at the National University of Rwanda who openly spoke out against the extremist forces and the genocide. He risked his life to provide safe passage for hundreds of Tutsi refugees, and urged the international community to take action to end the bloodshed. Mugesera was later convicted of genocide, crimes against humanity and incitement to genocide, and was sentenced to life imprisonment.
These five individuals provided immense courage during the Rwandan Genocide and acted as a beacon of hope to their fellow citizens. They are true examples of courage in the face of danger, and should be remembered and celebrated for their bravery and selfless acts.