An Interview of Michel Kayiranga

The Federal Investigator: Mr. Kayiranga, a Rwandan, lost his father, six brothers, and sister in the genocide; and in his career he has been instrumental in working with the Rwandan Prosecutor General and their Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit in extraditing suspected genocide fugitives to justice in Rwanda. 

On April 14, 2021, I had the honor of speaking with Rwandan Michel Kayiranga about his personal experiences and those of his family members during the Genocide Against the Tutsi in 1994. His father, six of his brothers, his sister, and the majority of their families were all tragically murdered during the genocide. Miraculously, his mother survived because a Hutu family hid her. Two of his brothers survived, after being able to hide in churches and bushes. Today, Mr. Kayiranga works as a Criminal Fraud Investigator at the United States Embassy in Rwanda. Mr. Kayiranga has been instrumental in working with the Rwandan Prosecutor General and their Genocide Fugitive Tracking Unit in extraditing suspected genocide fugitives to justice in Rwanda.

During our conversation, Mr. Kayiranga recounted the experiences of his family members during the genocide during which eight members of his immediate family were murdered. He also recounted how his mother and two of his brothers were able to survive.

Mr. Kayiranga also shared his perspective on the failure of the international community to do more to stop the genocide. He discussed the “signs” or stages that preceded the genocide, including training of militias designed to kill. He also commented on the failure of the international community, for political reasons, to declare what was taking place a “genocide.”

Mr. Kayiranga recalled, “Troops were pulling out and leaving people to be slaughtered. To Rwandans, it showed that the international community just abandoned us and left us.”

Finally, Mr. Kayiranga also spoke about how some Hutus who tried to help were also murdered. His mother survived because a Hutu family tried to hide her, yet one of them was murdered for doing that. He discussed the necessity of accurately reporting the facts of the genocide, especially in light of genocide deniers. Mr. Kayiranga stressed that the correct figure of deaths is that over one million Tutsis died. “It’s a genocide.” That is undeniable.

Mr. Kayiranga, Thank you for your willingness to speak with me and your unwavering dedication to seeking justice for the victims of the genocide.