Assassination of Habyarimana and Ntaryamira (1994)

1. Triggering event
   1. In 1994, the assassination of Presidents Juvénal Habyarimana (Rwanda) and Cyprien Ntaryamira (Burundi) triggered a devastating chain of events.
   2. The killings ignited the Rwandan genocide, plunging the nation into one of history’s most tragic conflicts.
2. The attack
   1. On April 6, 1994, Habyarimana’s plane was struck by two surface-to-air missiles while circling Kigali airport.
   2. The fiery crash killed all 12 people onboard, including both Rwandan and Burundian presidents.
   3. This deliberate attack remains one of history’s least thoroughly investigated political assassinations.
3. Immediate consequences
   1. The plane’s downing immediately triggered the planned genocide.
   2. Mass killings erupted within hours, overshadowing inquiries into the attack itself.
   3. The assassination acted as the catalyst, escalating ethnic violence and political chaos.

Suspicions Around the Assassination

1. Initial suspicions
   1. Blame focused on two groups:
      1. Extremist Hutu factions opposed to Habyarimana’s concessions to the RPF through the Arusha Accords.
      2. RPF rebels, suspected of trying to provoke conflict to seize power.
   2. RTLM radio falsely blamed Belgian troops, fueling ethnic tensions.
2. Role of Colonel Bagosora
   1. Colonel Théoneste Bagosora, a key Hutu extremist linked to the presidential guard and military hierarchy, was widely believed to have orchestrated the attack.
   2. Bagosora strongly opposed any peace deal with the RPF and had ominously warned of preparing for an “apocalypse” prior to the assassination.

Controversies and Investigations

1. French involvement
   1. The French military’s role is controversial.
   2. French officers, including Lieutenant Colonel Grégoire de Saint Quentin, arrived early at the crash site and reportedly retrieved the plane’s black box.
   3. French officials initially blamed the RPF, while others argue that France’s longstanding support for the Habyarimana regime influenced events.
2. Competing narratives
   1. The MRND party alleged a coup attempt by Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana.
   2. Habyarimana’s widow claimed southern troops with Belgian complicity were responsible.
   3. Jean Kambanda, the interim government leader after the assassination, later fled to Zaire, adding further complexity to accountability.
3. Investigations and findings
   1. Investigations were delayed, with France only launching an inquiry a decade later.
   2. Rwanda’s Mutsinzi Commission (2010) concluded that Hutu extremists, including forces under Bagosora’s command, were responsible.
   3. British experts confirmed that missiles were launched from Kanombe military camp, controlled by the presidential guard.