From May 07, 1997, the first groups of Rwandan refugees from TINGI-TINGI via OPALA, IKELA, BOENDE, INGENDE arrived at WENDJI SECLI, a neighbourhood located on the shore of the Congo river, 25 km in the outskirts of Mbandaka, capital of the Equateur province of DRC. Refugees were very tired and sick, the children show signs of malnutrition and the women mostly have swollen feet from a long walk of more than 2,000 km on foot. On the arrival of refugees, the Zairian soldiers (ex-FAZ) who had installed a position monitoring the entrance to the city are forced to intervene. They stop the refugees forcing them to set up camp there.
It was Tuesday, May 13, 1997, that automatic shots of weapons from afar started to be heard in the direction of INGENDE. Newly arrived refugees came running in panic and reported the arrival of Tutsi RPF soldiers. Suddenly, two military trucks emerged from behind full of soldiers, other soldiers came on foot. They fired in all directions and searched the bushes with fire, and then blocked the road that goes to MBANDAKA. Due to gun shorts around them, refugees were pushed together in the camp. The only opening left was towards the CONGO river. The RPF soldiers were recognizable because they spoke Kinyarwanda. They were led by “Major David” and Major Daniel Nshimiyumukiza.
They approach gradually and opened fire in the crowd; the automatic weapons crackle furiously, the grenades explode constantly, and rockets are launched into the bushes where the fugitives tried to find shelters. From 7:30 am to 9:00 am, the Tutsi soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Front massacred more than 4,500 Rwandan refugees.
Many refugees not yet hit by bullets jumped into the river. Tutsi soldiers approached the river and shot those who tried to escape by swimming. Other refugees crowded into a house near the camp believing they would find refuge there. But the soldiers noticed them and threw grenades at them before entering to finish off the survivors.
Zairian Red Cross workers were also rounded up. When the killing of refugees ended, these Red Cross workers were ordered to throw dead bodies into the river. A job that took several hours. Afterwards, they were given shovels to cover the place with earth to cover the blood that was flowing like rainwater. Father HERMAN had just enough time to take a few photos before disappearing discreetly. This event was also filmed on camera by Father PERER of IYONDA before being threatened by Tutsi soldiers of the RPF.
Source:
Refugees From Congo Give Vivid Accounts of Killings
Terminus Mbandaka: Le chemin des charniers de réfugiés rwandais au Congo