From 4 to 5 October 1990, approximately 10,000 Tutsi civilians were arrested after the Rwandan government orchestrated a simulated attack on Kigali, falsely claiming that the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) was planning an assault on the capital. The arrests were part of a broader strategy to target and persecute the Tutsi population in the wake of the RPA’s military advances into Rwanda.
Special Day Description:
On the night of 4-5 October 1990, the Rwandan government, led by President Juvénal Habyarimana and the MRND party, staged a false attack on Kigali by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA). The government spread the false narrative that the RPA was preparing to attack the capital city, causing widespread panic and fear throughout the country.
In the wake of this fabricated threat, approximately 10,000 Tutsi civilians were arrested across Rwanda, particularly in the Kigali region and its surroundings. The arrests targeted Tutsi men, women, and children, with many of the detainees being innocent civilians who had no affiliation with the RPA. They were detained under the pretext of being collaborators with the rebel forces, despite no evidence linking them to any wrongdoing.
The arrest campaign was a calculated tactic by the government to instill fear among the Tutsi population and to further justify their persecution. Tutsi civilians were seen as potential sympathizers with the RPF, and this mass arrest was an early sign of the systematic discrimination and ethnic violence that would intensify over the coming years.
The simulated attack itself was a psychological ploy designed to create a sense of urgency and fear among the population, thus legitimizing the government’s actions and justifying the arrest of innocent Tutsi civilians. Many of those arrested were subjected to brutal treatment, with reports of torture, killings, and disappearances during and after their detention.
These events were part of a broader strategy by the Habyarimana government to maintain control over the Tutsi population and to suppress any potential support for the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). The mass arrests were one of the early signs of a broader campaign of repression that would ultimately culminate in the 1994 Genocide.
Key Takeaways:
- The simulated attack on Kigali by the Rwandan government led to the arrest of approximately 10,000 Tutsi civilians.
- The arrests were part of a broader campaign of ethnic violence targeting the Tutsi population, despite no evidence of involvement with the RPA.
- The fabricated attack was designed to incite fear and justify the persecution of innocent civilians.
- These mass arrests were an early indication of the systematic violence and ethnic targeting that would escalate into the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi.
- Many of the arrested individuals faced torture, execution, and disappearance during the government’s crackdown.