Citation
OUTGOING CODE CABLE
TO: BARIL, UNATIONS, NEW YORK
FROM: DALLAIRE, UNAMIR, KIGALI, RWANDA
DATE: 7 APRIL 1994
NUMBER: 00)- Bz POT E7OE
SUBJECT: SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT REPORT - REPORTED DEATH OF
PRESIDENT OF RWANDA
REFERENCE: MIR 722
1. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED AND CONFIRMED BY RGF AND GENDARMERIE
THAT THE PRESIDENT OF RWANDA AND THE PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI WERE
KILLED IN AN AIRPLANE CRASH AT KIGALI AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY
2040_HOURS-6-APRIL-1994. THE DEATHS HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED
BY UNAMIR PERSONNEL BUT DUE TO THE STATEMENTS AND ACTIVITIES
OF LEADING RGF AND GENDARMERIE LEADERS THIS REPORT IS
CONSIDERED TRUE. THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE RGF WAS ALSO IN THE
AIRCRAFT. WE BELIEVE 9 PERSONS WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH.
2. AT APPROXIMATELY 2040 HOURS UNMOs AT KANOMBE (KIGALI
INTERNATIONAL) AIRPORT REPORTED A LARGE EXPLOSION FROM THE
AREA OF CAMP KANOMBE WHICH IS A MILITARY CAMP NEAR THE
AIRPORT. INITIAL REPORTS STATED IT WAS AN EXPLOSION OF
MUNITIONS. HOWEVER, WITHIN MINUTES GENDARMERTE AND RGF
PERSONNEL. AT THE AIRPORT BEGAN TO PANIC IN THE AREA OF THE
AIRPORT. THE UNMOs REQUESTED AN ARMED ESCORT INVESTIGATE THE
EXPLOSION.
3. AT 2118 HOURS A PLATOON OF PRESIDENTIAL GUARD ESTABLISHED
A ROADBLOCK AT THE MERIDIEN TRAFFIC CIRCLE AND BLOCKED
TRAFFIC. SEVERAL SHOTS WERE FIRED. NO REPORTED CASUALTIES.
THE GUARDS APPEARED BY UNAMIR OBSERVATION TO BE NERVOUS AND
DANGEROUS.
4. AT. 2130 HOURS A REPORT FROM UNMOs AT THE AIRPORT STATED
THE TOWER HAD DECLARED THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL AIRPLANE HAD
CRASHED. IT WAS NOT AT THIS TIME CONFIRMED THAT THE PRESIDENT
WAS ON THE AIRCRAFT. A TELEPHONE CALL TO THE RPF LOs LIVING
WITH UNAMIR STAFF AT THE MERIDIEN HOTEL DISCOVERED ALL THE LOs
HAD DEPARTED THE MERIDIEN HOTEL APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES
EARLIER. THE FC DISPATCHED THE DCOO TO THE RPF\CND COMPOUND
TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH THEM AND ORDERED THE DFC\COS TO THE
HEADQUARTERS.
5. AT 2335 HOURS KIGALI SECTOR HQ REPORTED THAT THE ARMED
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PATROL SENT TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH HAD BEEN STOPPED,
DISARMED AND WERE BEING HELD AT THE AIRPORT. IN ADDITION THE
UNMOs AT THE AIRPORT WERE CONFINED TO A ROOM AT THE AIRPORT.
THE FC PLACED UNAMIR ON RED ALERT AND PLACED THE FORCE RESERVE
ON 30 MINUTES NOTICE TO MOVE.
6. CONSTANT TELEPHONE CALLS WERE RECEIVED DURING THIS PERTOD
BY THE FC AND FORCE HQ FROM MINISTERS REQUESTING ARMED UN
PROTECTION. IN ADDITION AN UNCONFIRMED REPORT WAS RECEIVED
THAT THE PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI WAS ALSO IN THE AIRCRAFT. THE
RGF LO WAS IN CONSTANT TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION FROM ARMY HQ
WITH THE FC AND REPORTED THE CRASH HAD OCCURRED AND
SUBSEQUENTLY REQUESTED FC PRESENCE AT THE RGF ARMY HQ.
7. A CALL FROM MR RIZA IN NEW YORK WAS RECEIVED AND THE
UNCONFIRMED INFORMATION AS KNOWN AT THAT TIME WAS PASSED TO
HIM AT 2210 HOURS. THE FC MOVED TO RGF ARMY HQ AT 2230
HOURS.
8. TRANSITING THE CITY IT WAS VOID OF INHABITANTS OR
TRAFFIC. ROADBLOCKS MANNED BY RGF SOLDIERS WERE LOCATED NEAR
THE RGF HQ. FC ARRIVED AT 2250 HOURS AND WAS MET BY THE CHEF
DE CABINET OF THE MND OF RWANDA. (THE MND IS IN CAMEROON AT A
CONFERENCE), THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE GENDARMERIE AND THE KEY
STAFF APPOINTMENTS OF THE ARMY AND GENDARMERIE. THE CHEF DE
CABINET SPOKE FOR THE GROUP.
9. HE STATED THAT THE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE
ARMY WERE ON THE PLANE AND THAT THERE WERE NO SURVIVORS FROM
THE AIRPLANE CRASH. HE COULD NOT AT THIS POINT CONFIRM THE
OTHER PASSENGERS. THE FC OFFERED NO INFORMATION (IE PRESIDENT
OF BURUNDI). HE STATED APPARENTLY THE AIRCRAFT EXPLODED IN
THE AIR AND CRASHED ON THE GROUND IN THE PRESIDENTS GARDEN
NEAR THE AIRPORT. IT WAS. SUSPECTED BUT NOT CONFIRMED THAT THE
PLANE HAD BEEN SHOT DOWN.
10. DURING HIS DISCOURSE REPORTS CONTINUED TO ARRIVE BY PHONE
WHICH UPDATED THE SITUATION. THE CHEF STATED THE ARMY AND
GENDARMERIE WERE PREPARED TO KEEP THEIR POSITION FOR THE
COUNTRY AND FOR PEACE. WITHOUT THE PRESIDENT HE STATED. THEIR
WAS NO GOVERNMENT AND THAT THE POPULATION HAD TO BE REASSURED
TO MAINTAIN SECURITY IN THE NATION. HE REQUESTED UNAMIR
SUPPORT IN THEIR ACTIONS. THE FC STATED EVEN WITH THE DEATH
OF THE PRESIDENT THERE WAS STILL A GOVERNMENT UNDER PM AGATHE.
THE OFFICERS, SCOFFED AND STATED SHE AND HER GROUP WERE NOT A
GOVERNMENT. THE FC DID NOT PURSUE THAT CONVERSATION BUT ASKED
WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT THEY WERE REQUESTING. THE CHEF STATED
JOINT UNAMIR GENDARMERIE AND RGF PATROLS AND A STATEMENT TO
THE POPULATION. THE FC STATED THAT THE RGF MUST REMAIN IN ITS
BARRACKS AND THAT THE GENDARMERIE MUST DO ITS JOB OF
MAINTAINING ORDER. THE FC STATED THE RPF WERE CALM AND UNAMIR
WOULD MONITOR THEM CLOSELY AND THAT IT WAS CRITICAL THAT
UNAMIR BE ALLOWED TO INVESTIGATE THE CRASH SITE AND THAT THE
PRESIDENTIAL GUARD RETURN TO THEIR GARRISON. NO COMMITMENT
WAS MADE AT THIS POINT.
11. AT 1107 HOURS THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE GENDARMERIE
REPORTED THE PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI HAD BEEN ON THE AIRCRAFT.
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HE STATED THIS GROUP DID NOT WANT POWER BUT ONLY WANTED TO
REASSURE THE POPULATION AS THE POPULATION WAS TIRED OF THIS
DANCING AROUND. THE FC ASKED WHO WOULD SPEAK TO THE
POPULATION AND SUGGESTED THE PM AGATHE. HE ALSO ASKED IF
ANYONE HAD SPOKEN TO THE PM AND THE CABINET. THE CHEF AVOIDED
THE QUESTION BY STATING THE NATION NEEDED A TRANSITIONAL
AUTHORITY TO HANDOVER TO THE POLITICIANS AT ANYTIME THEY WERE
PREPARED TO GOVERN. HOWEVER, HE REITERATED ORDER HAD TO BE
MAINTAINED TONIGHT AND THAT UNAMIR ASSISTANCE WAS CRITICAL.
12. THE FC STATED THESE DISCUSSIONS HAD POLITICAL
IMPLICATIONS AND HE MUST CONSULT WITH THE SRSG. HOWEVER HE
STATED ANY ACTION HE WOULD TAKE WOULD ONLY BE WITH HIS
PERMISSION. A JOINT COORDINATED PLAN WAS ESSENTIAL. IT MUST
BE TRANSPARENT AND CONTROLLED. THE FC ASKED WHAT WAS THE
THREAT AT THIS MOMENT.
13. THE CHEF STATED WHAT DID UNAMIR WANT THEM TO DO.
14, THE FC STATED RGF TROOPS MUST BE CONFINED TO THEIR
BARRACKS AND ONLY THE GENDARMERIE MUST MAINTAIN ORDER.
15. THE CHEF ASKED TO PLACE TROOPS ON ALERT FOR POSSIBLE
DEPLOYMENT BUT THEY WOULD REMAIN IN THEIR BARRACKS.
16 AT 2330 HOURS THE FC CONSULTED WITH THE SRSG BY
TELEPHONE. HE RETURNED TO THE MEETING AND LISTENED TO THE COS
GENDARMERIE ENHANCED SECURITY PLAN TO CONSIST OF ONE ARMORED
CAR AND EXTRA GENDARMES AT THE RADIO STATION, ONE ARMORED CAR
AND EXTRA GENDARMES AT THE TELCON AND EXTRA GENDARMES AT THE
ELECTROGAZ AND THE CITY FUEL TANKS IN CASE OF SABOTAGE. IN
ADDITION HE REQUESTED SATURATED PATROLLING WITH JOINT GENDARME
AND UNAMIR PATROLS. THE FC AGREED TO THE ABOVE REQUESTS AND
STATED THE GROUP MUST REASSURE THE POLITICAL LEADERS OF THE
COUNTRY, KEEP THE RGF IN ITS BARRACKS AND ORDER THE
PRESIDENTIAL GUARD BACK TO ITS BARRACKS. THE CHEF ADDED THAT
THEY WOULD SPEAK TO THE RPF THE NEXT DAY WHEN THE POLITICAL
SITUATION IS CLEARER. THE FC OFFERED TO STAY AT THE
HEADQUARTERS TO COORDINATE ACTIVITIES UNTIL KIGALI SECTOR
COMMANDER COULD ARRIVE TO COORDINATE DETAILS.
17. AT 2400 HOURS THE FC WAS CONSULTING WITH THE SRSG BY
TELEPHONE WHEN THE CHEF STATED HE WANTED TO SEE THE SRSG WITH
THE FC. THE FC AFTER ACCEPTANCE BY THE SRSG, ESCORTED THE
CHEF TO THE SRSG HOME WHILE KIGALI SECTOR COMMANDER
COORDINATED THE ENHANCED JOINT SECURITY MEASURES WITH THE COS
OF THE GENDARMERIE AND THE STAFF OF THE RGF AND GENDARMERIE.
BEFORE LEAVING, THE FC ASKED THEM TO RECONSIDER AGAIN SPEAKING
TO PM AGATHE.
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19. AT 0200 THE FC RETURNED TO RGF HQ WITH THE CHEF FROM HIS
MEETING WITH THE SRSG AND CONFIRMED THE SECURITY DETAILS WITH
THE KIGALI SECTOR COMMANDER. THE FC REITERATED THE NECESSITY.
OF GETTING A UNAMIR PRESENCE TO THE CRASH SITE TO CONDUCT AN
INVESTIGATION. THE COS GENDARMERIE AND RGF LO TO UNAMIR
COORDINATED THIS MATTER WITH THE KIGALI SECTOR COMMANDER AS
ROAD BLOCKS STILL BLOCKED ACCESS OF UNAMIR FORCES TO THE CRASH
SITE. THE CHEF STATED THE GROUP WOULD PREPARE A COMMUNIQUE
FOR THE RADIO AND PRESS. THE FC INSISTED ON SEEING THE
COMMUNIQUE BEFORE IT WAS RELEASED. AT 0230 HOURS. KIGALI
SECTOR COMMANDER STATED THE FOLLOWING PERSONS WERE SUPPOSEDLY
ON THE AIRCRAFT:
A. PRESIDENT OF RWANDA.
B. PRESIDENT OF BURUNDI.
C. TWO BURUNDIAN MINISTERS.
D. THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE RGF (MGEN NSABIMANA)
E. COL SAGATWA (STAFF OFFICER).
F. DR AKINGENEYE (PERSONAL PHYSICIAN OF THE PRESIDENT).
20. AT 0245 HOURS THE HEAD OF THE FRENCH MILITARY MISSION AND
ANOTHER FRENCH OFFICER ARRIVED. AT THE RGF HQ AND STATED THEY
HAD DIRECTION PARIS TO ENSURE A QUALIFIED CRASH INVESTIGATION
WAS CONDUCTED OF THE CRASH. FC ASSURED THEM IT WOULD BE.
THEY OFFERED THEIR MILITARY TECHNICAL TEAM CURRENTLY
INVESTIGATING 6. HOURS AWAY AT BANGUI.
21. AT 0300 THE FC MOVED TO FORCE HQ AND CONSULTED WITH HIS
PRIMARY STAFF OFFICERS. AT 0530 THE SOUND OF SPORADIC MACHINE
GUNS, ROCKET AND GRENADE FIRE WAS HEARD IN VARIOUS AREAS OF
THE CITY. ON AT LEAST ONE OCCASION THE RPF RETURNED FIRE
AIMED AT THEM.
22. AT 0600 INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED THAT THE PM HAD
CANCELLED HER RADIO ADDRESS AT 0530 AND WAS REMAINING AT HER
HOME. THE GUARD ON HER HOME WAS INCREASED. IN ADDITION THE
PM REPORTED THAT THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND AGRICULTURE
HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED WITH THEIR FAMILIES BY THE PRESIDENTIAL
GUARD.
23. ATTEMPTS BY FC TO GET THE RADIO STATIONS TO CARRY AN
ADDRESS BY THE PM OR BY UNAMIR OVER THE PHONES WERE REFUSED.
RADIO RWANDA TECHNICIANS WERE WARNED NOT TO BROADCAST ANY
ADDRESS AND ARE PLAYING CLASSICAL MUSIC. RTLM SUPPOSEDLY
BROADCASTED A MESSAGE FROM THE MND (WHO IS OUT OF COUNTRY) BUT
DETAILS COULD NOT BE OBTAINED AS IT WAS IN KINYARWANDA. IN
ADDITION RTLM WOULD NOT ALLOW FC TO BROADCAST. THEY ACCUSED
UNAMIR OF KILLING RWANDESE WHICH IS TOTALLY UNTRUE AS UP TO
THAT POINT UNAMIR HAD NOT FIRED A SHOT.
24. SRSG, FC AND VARIOUS AMBASSADORS HAVE MAINTAINED CLOSE
COMMUNICATION AND ATTEMPTED TO ORGANIZE A MEETING AT THE US
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AMBASSADORS HOME AT 0900. AT 0730 HOURS IT WAS REPORTED BUT
NOT CONFIRMED THAT THE HOME OF MINISTER LANDO (LIBERAL PARTY)
HAD BEEN ATTACKED AND UN (GHANA) SOLDIERS HAD BEEN KILLED. A
RESERVE PATROL WAS SENT TO HIS HOME.
25. RPF REMAINED CALM AND PASSED INFORMATION TO UNAMIR
THROUGH THE UNAMIR LO. UNAMIR HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN DENIED
ACCESS TO THE CRASH SITE. IN ADDITION COMMENCING AT 0730 RGF
(POSSIBLY PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS) .
26. AT 0830 MORE REPORTS CONTINUED TO ARRIVE OF MINISTERS
HOMES BEING ATTACKED BY PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS. AT 0845 THE PM
FLED HER HOME AND HER UN GUARD WHICH BOUGHT HER TIME WAS
DISARMED AND HELD BUT LATER RELEASED. THE PM TOOK REFUGE IN
THE UNDP. AT 0920 IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT MINISTER LANDO AND
HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM THEIR HOME. THE UN GUARD WAS
OVERPOWERED AND ONE GHANIAN SOLDIER WAS REPORTED MISSING.
27. AT 0920 HOURS FC CALLED MR RIZA AT UNNY TO INFORM HIM OF
THE ESCALATION OF THE SITUATION AND TO INFORM HIM UNAMIR MIGHT
HAVE TO USE FORCE TO SAVE THE PRIME MINISTER. THE ARMED
ESCORT ATTEMPTING TO GET TO UNDP TO RESCUE THE PM WAS BLOCKED
AND THREATENED WITH FIRE IF THEY ATTEMPTED TO GO TO UNDP. THE
FC DISCUSSED RULES OF ENGAGEMENT WITH MR RIZA AND THE RULES OF
ENGAGEMENT WERE CONFIRMED THAT UNAMIR WAS NOT TO FIRE UNTIL
FIRED UPON. OUR PERSONNEL WHO WERE OVERPOWERED WITHOUT FIRE.
28. THE AMBASSADORS MEETING AT THE US AMBASSADORS HOUSE WAS
CANCELLED BECAUSE THE AMBASSADORS COULD NOT BE SAFELY ESCORTED
TO THE MEETING. THE ARMY AND GENDARMERIE GROUP DID APPEAR.
FC DISCUSSED MR RIZAs DIRECTION WITH SRSG.
29. FC CONVENED A STAFF MEETING AT 1000 HOURS. FC TO GO TO
ARMY HQ TO MEET ARMY AND GENDARMERIE GROUP TO EMPHASIZE
PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS MUST GO TO THEIR BARRACKS, MINISTERS MUST
BE RELEASED AND PM RECOGNIZED AS HEAD OF STATE. DFC\COS TO
CONTINUE TO ATTEMPT ACCESS TO CRASH SITE. DCOO TO REMAIN WITH
RPF AND KEEP THEM CALM. CMO TO REMAIN AT FORCE HQ AND
MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH OTHER SECTORS. SOUTHERN SECTOR ALL
QUIET EXCEPT FIRING IN CYANGUGU. RPF SECTOR ALL QUIET. UNMOS
DEPLOYED TO RPF FRONT LINES. SECTOR COMMANDER WITH MGEN
KAGAME. RGF SECTOR QUIET.
30. DCOO CONVEYED AT 1005 RPF CALM BUT INSISTING ON
INSTALLATION OF BBTG, PM AS HEAD OF GOVERNMENT, CONSTITUTION,
END TO VIOLENCE.
31. 1015 REPORT FROM RGF LO THAT 3 UNAMIR PERSONNEL KILLED AT
CAMP KAMI. CMO TOOK DECISION TO CALL IN ALL MILOBS FROM MILOB
GP HQ TO FORCE HQ. CMO CHECKED AND MILOBS WERE NOT KILLED AND
ALL WERE ACCOUNTED FOR.
32. 1030 HOURS UNDP REPORTED PRESIDENTIAL GUARDS ATTEMPTING
TO BREAK INTO COMPOUND AND ASKED FOR IMMEDIATE SUPPORT.
PATROL BLOCKED BY ROADBLOCK AND UNABLE TO GET THROUGH.
33. 1215 HOURS KIGALI SECTOR COMMANDER DISPATCHED APCs TO GET
PM DESIGNATE WHO HAD BEEN LOCATED AT THE HOME OF A US NATIONAL
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BY THE US AMBASSADOR. A TOGOLESE CAPTAIN UNMO REPORTED TO THE
FORCE HQ AND STATED HE AND 13 BELGIAN SOLDIERS HAD BEEN
CAPTURED AND TAKEN TO CAMP KIGALI WHERE HE REPORTS THAT 13
BELGIAN SOLDIERS WERE EXECUTED. BELGIAN CONTINGENT COMMANDER
INFORMED AND INVESTIGATION COMMENCED.
34. FC CALLED AT 1300 TO STATE HE FELT HE HAD NEGOTIATED THE
RELEASE OF THE UNDP PERSONNEL. WHETHER OR NOT THE PM AGATHE
WAS IN THIS GROUP COULD NOT BE CONFIRMED. COL MARCHAL CALLED
TO STATE HE HAD SECURED THE PM DESIGNATE FAUSTIN. CONTINUOUS
CALLS FOR HELP FROM THE LOCAL, UN AND EXPATRIATE COMMUNITY BUT
DUE TO ROADBLOCKS VERY FEW ACTIONED. TERRIFIED REFUGEES SWAMP
THE HQ AND ARE MOVED UNDER ESCORT TO AMAHORO STADIUM UNDER
PROTECTION OF RUTBAT. FC CALLED FOR TWO MORE APC’S TO HELP
HIS APC EXTRACT UNDP HOSTAGES. DISPATCHED. DFC\COS ORDERED ALL
STAFF OFFICERS TO THE FORCE HQ IN CONVOY. ESSENTIAL CIVILIAN
STAFF MOVED INTO THE HQ.
35. AT 1315 HOURS MGEN KAGAME MADE A STATEMENT BY RADIO THAT
THE RPF UNDERSTOOD THAT MANY OF THE ATTACKS IN KIGALI WERE
AIMED AT THEIR SUPPORTERS AND THAT IF THIS CONTINUED HIS
SOLDIERS WOULD REACT TO DEFEND THEIR PEOPLE. REPORTED TO FC
WHO DIRECTED DCOO WITH RPF AND CND AND RPF SECTOR COMMANDER TO
ATTEMPT TO CALM DOWN RPF.
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