A description of May events and weekly maps can be found here
May 1
-UNAMIR headquarters is still protected by an increasingly hostile RPA as Romeo Dallaire pressures for a ceasefire
-Fighting continues at the Meridien Hotel and Remera
-St Famille is shelled, killing 12, wounding 100+ UNAMIR blames the RPA, but it dismisses the accusation
May 2
-FAR attempt a new recruitment drive with only four days of training
-RPA’s 157 and 101 CMF gain in the east/south (inching closer to Gatovu/Bugesera)
-Charles Muhire (101 CMF commander) is commanded to go around Kigali towards Gitarama
May 3
-Kimihurura Circle experiences intense fighting as trenches form in the south (Republican Guard) and northeast (RPA’s Alpha CMF)
-Frontlines remain unchanged
-FAR launches shells and mortars at the Parliament
-RPA continues its humanitarian rescue operations
May 4
-Increased fighting and shelling around Remera led to Kigali Airport’s temporary closure
-RPA’s 7th CMF reaches the outskirts of Kigali
-RPA shells Kiyovu (aims towards Camp Kigali) from Kacyiru positions
-Fighting remains heavy on the frontline
May 5
-Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) announces ‘clean-up’ day in Kigali for Interahamwe to kill all Tutsis for the upcoming month since President Habyarimana’s death
-RPA responded by sending additional platoons to find and rescue Rwandans
-Heavy fighting continues on frontlines
May 6
-The Parliament became increasingly riddled with mortar and shell holes, but its basement still provides urgent medical help
-While Parliament remains RPA’s Kigali headquarters (under Sam Kaka’s command), the nearby Ndera Sector (recently liberated) will soon replace it
May 7
-RPA (101 CMF) had largely swept across the Nyabarongo River south of Kigali.
-Continued heavy fighting at the frontlines
-RPA platoons conduct rescue missions
-The majority of the RPA’s 157, 101 and 59 CMF focuses on reaching Gitarama to try to capture the genocide regime
May 8
-Intense fighting at Gikondo, Kicukiro and Rwandex neighbourhoods
-RPA inching closer to Camp Kanombe
-FAR brings greater artillery weapons from Gitarama
-FAR continues to shell the Parliament, but little offensive action beyond genocidal killings
May 9
-RPA’s 59 and 21 CMF began taking positions around Nyamirambo
-UNAMIR lost Ghanese Lt. Col. Mensah Baidoo, who died from shelling, most likely from the FAR aimed towards Amahoro Stadium
-FAR hopes the Genocide against the Tutsi impacts RPA morale
May 10
-RPA’s new positions at Nyamirambo and the city centre led to a new offensive operation.
-Battles continued throughout the frontlines and increased warfare in Remera.
-The battle for Camp Kanombe is heating up as well.
May 11
-Battles continued throughout Kigali’s frontline
-RPA’s 157 and 101 CMF experienced heavy fighting in Bugesera, but reached north of Gitarama (headquarters of the genocide regime).
-RPA plans to encircle Gitarama to force FAR to surrender or flee.
May 12
-As some FAR commanders begin to desert, the genocide regime in Gitarama sends recruits from the countryside to Kigali
-FAR failed to stop the RPA’s 157 CMF from crossing the Akanyaru River, which aided in the city’s encirclement
May 13
-Battles between FAR and Alpha CMF (led by Ceasar Kayizari) continued at Remera, Gikondo, Kicukiro and Rwandex
-FAR shells the Parliament
-RPA continues rescue operations
-RPA’s Bravo CMF is still attempting to capture Mt Jali
May 14
-Fighting remains on the frontlines
-A renewed RPA (Alpha CMF) attack towards Camp Kimihurura (Republican Guards)
-RPA’s 21 CMF shelling at Nyamirambo led to little territory changing, but provided cover for RPA’s rescue missions.
May 15
-FAR attempted but failed to take back control of Mt Rebero
-RPA captures Kabuga
-Jacob Tumwine (commander of 2 RPA companies) received orders from RPA commander Paul Kagame to allow a humanitarian corridor for civilians to escape before the battle of Kanombe
May 16
-FAR continues to send buses with newly recruited soldiers to recapture Mt Rebero
-FAR suffered a major intelligence and tactical loss after the RPA cut the Kigali-Gitarama road. This severely limited communications between Kigali and Gitarama
May 17
-Frontlines remain the same
-CND shelled by FAR
-Former FAR Lt describes Kimihurura Circle as looking like ‘the trench warfare of the Western front [during WWI]’ as he credits/praises the RPA’s battle-hardened commanders for their success
May 18
-RPA’s 101 and 157 CMF reached the outskirts of Gitarama
-New FAR recruits grossed 10,000, but mainly were composed of Interahamwe.
-The recruits were unsuccessful in displacing the RPA despite vicious battles across Kicukiro, Remera and eastern Kigali
May 19
-RPA nearly fully encircled Kigali
-FAR began using 37 mm anti-aircraft guns for ground warfare
-RPA continues rescue operations
– Romeo Dallaire continues to push for a ceasefire. RPA demand the end of the Genocide before pausing military operations
May 20
-Battle for Camp Kanombe intensifies
-FAR/Republican Guard tries to keep hold of the important tactical and morale position
-RPA’s Jacob Tumwine (2 companies) meets with 7 CMF at Busanza road
-RPA tapped the FAR’s military radio frequency to stop FAR retreat
May 21
-Battle of Camp Kanombe in its final days
-Temporary ceasefire for Kanombe civilians and the injured to leave. Paul Kagame keeps the humanitarian corridor open
-FAR experienced heavy losses
-RPA’s Alpha, 7 and 21 CMF pressing in eastern Kigali
May 22
-Capture of Camp Kanombe begins
-FAR tries to counter-attack, but it fails
-RPA’s Eagle and Tiger Company and 7 CMF (from the east) meet to take over the Busanza road.
-RPA’s 7 CMF dislodges FAR Para-Commandos
-RPA’s Alpha and 21 CMF are involved in taking the airport
May 23
-RPA captured Camp Kanombe and the airport
-UNAMIR comments how RPA morale is high while the FAR’s has collapsed
-RTLM calls for Interahamwe to be bold in their killings as a way to seek vengeance
-RPF officials travel to view the captured base
May 24
-RPA captured Kicukiro, but there are still pockets of Interahamwe
-The FAR are disorganised because of Camp Kanombe’s capture
-FAR and Republican Guard tried to regroup in their military bases of Camp Kigali, Camp Kimihurura and Camp Kacyiru
May 25
-RPA (Alpha CMF) fighting resistance in Kicukiro
-FAR shells at RPA locations
-UNAMIR is organising a prisoner exchange. RPA will send FAR’s family and captured soldiers for Rwandans hiding at Mille Colline, St Paul/Sainte Famille
May 26
-Negotiations continue for the exchange of FAR prisoners for Rwandan refugees
-RPA Bravo CMF’s new commander, Charles Kayonga, begins securing Gisozi Hill and planning for St Paul and Famille rescue operation
-FAR pushback at Bravo’s Kacyiru operation
May 27
-UNAMIR secured a temporary truce, which began the following day at 6:00 pm
-Some Interahamwe began abandoning their checkpoints and roadblocks across the city’s FAR-controlled neighbourhoods, with Gendarmerie operating them instead.
May 28
-Temporary ceasefire begins for exchange (captured FAR for Rwandan internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Hotel des Mille Colline/St Famille/St Paul)
-FAR fire at the Parliament and other RPA positions, such as Gisozi (where Bravo CMF are) from Mt Kigali, with RPA returning fire
May 29
RPA’s 101 CMF (commanded by Charles Muhire) sends three companies to begin securing KK 15 RD – NR 5.
-FAR morale is low, with desertion becoming common
–Interahamwe are sent to the frontlines with minimal military training to fight the RPA
May 30
-RPA-controlled Kigali-Gitarama/Gitarama-Butare road and the area surrounding Kigali
-FAR only controlled parts of Mt Kigali, Gikondo, Kacyiru and Kimihurura
–Interahamwe leaders visit Kiyovu to call the public to finish the Genocide in Kigali
May 31
-UNAMIR’s Captain Mbaye Diagne of Senegal dies at the Kigali Night Club while travelling on KN 7 RD.
-Alpha CMF gains in Kimihurura for encirclement tactic.
-Charles Kayonga (Bravo CMF) plans a rescue operation at St Famille and St Paul
Share this:
- Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
- Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
- Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
- Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
Jonathan R Beloff 