The Abasesero resistance, a heroism to emulate.

Nine spears that symbolize the bravery of Abasesero. [Photo:Internet]

Not very far from the Kibuye city as you are nearing Bisesero, in western of Rwanda where only barely above a thousand survived the cruel and the most daunting Genocide against Tutsi, to tell the story of Abasesero’s bravery

As we climbed the scenery of those countless hilly mountains that once was booming with life of Abasesero with their countless cattle, a narrator, call him a guide if you want, recalled the fate of Abasesero.

When the first genocide of the 20^th Century broke, as they have historically repelled such criminality out of their land, Abasesero regrouped on a dozens of hills, to safeguard their treasured land, cattle and families.  Their story is a tale of unweaving heroism.

At the top of the hill is a forest with long trees. That mountain used overlooking others, was used as the Abasesero stronghold. Downside in the valley is the Kivu Lake, where often Interahamwe militia attacked from during the Genocide.

Those verdant mountains have engulfed infant, children, elders and brave men and ever since, becoming a tomb of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi victims.

On the upper of Bisesero hills, is located the 1994 Genocide Memorial that keeps 60,000 bodies and marks the history of horror that happened on those hills. At its entrance, there are nine spears that symbolize the bravery of Abasesero. The spears evoke the Abasesero unrelenting resistance against Interahamwe attackers.

Literary, Bisesero became a battlefield. For a period of about three months, Tutsi pushed back heavily armed Interahamwe militia backed by the government army, FAR

Armed with only stones and traditional weapons, the Tutsi in Bisesero managed to hold back the militia for weeks until the Interahamwe received reinforcements both from several districts and from The Genocidaire government army.  

The most notable militia in the country and the FAR soldiers defeated on the battlefield by the few but mighty RPA soldiers, conveyed in Bisesero to commit the most ignominious crime before fleeing to the neighboring Zaire.

The French troops were deployed in the area as part of the so-called humanitarian mission. Despite witnessing the Genocide killings in the area and overlooking the testimonies from Abasesero of hundreds of attacked they had been subject to,   French soldiers left them, abandoning them in hands of evil.

Instead of saving those that were being killed, they made sure to provide a safe corridor to the militia as they crossed the border into DR Congo following their defeat by RPA.  Different reports and researchers attest to that.

‘’The French troops who came to Bisesero in the midst of the massacre listened to pleading Tutsis who begged them to stay and protect them, to ensure that the killings would stop. But the French left the area for three days even while the killers were in sight.’’ Naom Schimmel

The former refuge of Tutsis from areas that surrounded Bisesero following their famous self-defense that identified Abasesero since 1959 is now an array of ghost hills. Tears are flowing on eyes of handful survivors crying for their beloved ones that lay in Genocide Memorial to remember and keep them in their hearts.

Survivors on the hill cried and suffered for a long time but now they started a new chapter of life.

‘’I would like to tell genocide survivors that they are not alone. They lost families but there’s one family they didn’t lose: their country. Rwanda is the family of survivors. It’s the family of every Rwandan.’’, says President Paul Kagame.

President Paul Kagame made the comment last Friday at the beginning of the 23^rd Commemoration. He recalled that Rwanda as a loving family for Genocide survivors helped them to start a new life.

Rwandans need to emulate Abasesero bravery

After the worst past that paralyzed our country, Rwandans guided by their government led by RPF Inkotanyi, fought effortlessly the Genocide ideology. Now unity and reconciliation in Rwanda is over is ninety percent among Rwandans.

From glass to grace, Rwanda is among the safest country. The country is now awash with ambitious projects; now at the helm, we are now in the war to promote made in Rwanda products to increase its economic gains and resilience.

Abasesero died defending their lives. They left an important legacy; their bravery to fight evil is an eternal light that every Rwandan should emulate.

We are progressing but we still need to build on our progress to be a middle income state and a respected country.

Our sustainable development, the bright future of our country will not come free of efforts; it needs people like you to work hard and harder.

We need to join hands together to fight war of development. We need to fight against people and NGOs that still forge fake news about our country.  

We need to stand stronger and tell the world the true story about our country, Rwanda.

Janvier KARANGWA is a university of Rwanda student
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