The genocide of 1972, 1973 against the Hutu affected the families of the province Ruyigi and Cankuzo as well as many other provinces of the country.

Witnesses revealed to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that the victims of this crisis from Cankuzo were transported to Ruyigi and then executed without mercy, as indicated by Clément Noé Ninziza, vice-president of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The latter deplores the disgraceful behavior of certain inhabitants of Ruyigi who hid some human bones for purposes not yet known.

At the UHURU stadium located in the capital of Ruyigi province, in the early hours of this Friday, 25/02/2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission organized an interfaith prayer in memory of the victims of the 1972 and 1973 killings.

This was in the wake of the provisional closure of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s activities in two provinces (Ruyigi-Cankuzo), activities that began two weeks ago. According to testimonies, these two provinces experienced moments of hardship during the years 1972 and 1973. The Hutus who lived there were the targeted elements. The Commissioner Clément Noé Ninziza said.

The perpetrators testified to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that they could not refuse the order that came from the country’s high authorities, he said. A total of 59 bones of human remains were found in Mukinyabakecuru, a place not far from the capital of Ruyigi Province. Clément Noé Ninziza informed that soon, lists of the victims of the killings dating from 1972, 1973 will be drawn up on all the hills of the country in order to know their names.

Honorable Sabine NTAKARUTIMANA, First vice Speaker of the National Assembly of Burundi, who attended these ceremonies on behalf of the National Assembly, invited the inhabitants of Ruyigi to respect human life and not to fall into the traps of bad authorities like those of 1972, 1973 who sowed ethnic hatred between the brothers. According to the Honorable Ntakarutimana, no one can have peace by killing a human being that he or she did not create.

The First vice Speaker of the National Assembly congratulated the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on behalf of the Speaker of the National Assembly of Burundi for its activities in restoring the broken hearts and reconciling Burundians. She implored the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to continue its investigations to uncover other humanitarian crimes that Burundi has experienced.

Honorable Sabine Ntakarutimana indicated that the National Assembly appreciates the way the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is doing its work. She did not fail to point out that the lower house of parliament is closely following the activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and that the National Assembly of Burundi will stand by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission until the end of its mission.

She then called on the inhabitants of the Ruyigi province not to be afraid to show the Truth and Reconciliation Commission other mass graves because these activities contribute to the future generation not only growing up with respect for human beings, but also avoiding that such a tragedy ever happens again in Burundi. According to Honorable Ntakarutimana, the National Assembly wishes that the government of Burundi supports all the activities of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the popularization its report presented to the Burundian parliament on December 20, 2021.

The National Assembly thanks some people from Ruyigi Province for their testimonies to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and invites other people who have testimonies to keep the truth inside them. In addition to the Honorable Sabine Ntakarutimana, members of parliament and senators elected in the constituency of Ruyigi, some religious leaders as well as the inhabitants of the commune of Ruyigi were present at these ceremonies, which ended with the sharing of a glass of water as part of the ritual of mourning.