Rwandan Genocide: the Story of Brigitte Kitenge - part 2

Part 2. The testimony of Brigitte Kitenge, a survivor of the Rwandan Genocide which claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis in 1994, regarding her experience as a survivor of unspeakable human tragedy.




Brigitte Kitenge met her husband, Leon, when he left the Congo to teach at a Rwandan university. But the early 1990s was the wrong time to be in love with a young Rwandan woman who was half Hutu and half Tutsi.

When the genocide began, most of Brigitte's extended family was massacred. The couple's two daughters had to be told that their mother was dead so that they could not inadvertently reveal her whereabouts as she hid from the roving death squads.

Brigitte was pregnant with their third child when they escaped to the Congo, where Leon's family demanded that he put his wife and children aside and marry a Congolese woman. When he refused, they turned the couple away.

The Kitenges remained in Congo for a few years while Brigitte had her baby, obtained her masters in business administration and landed a job with a U.S. nonprofit organization. But soon Brigitte was in danger again. Congo was backing the Rwandan government's genocidal war, and Brigitte's contact with Americans made her a particular target.

Accused of being a U.S. spy, Brigitte was arrested and tortured by Congolese authorities. She was allowed just a few minutes each evening to breastfeed her third daughter at the prison. Eventually, Brigitte was released. Pregnant now with her fourth child, she fled to Uganda, crossing the border by pretending to be in labor while the driver told border authorities, "The hospital back there is closed! We have to get this woman to the hospital on your side!"

Brigitte made it to Uganda with nothing but the clothes on her back. Leon and her daughters joined her a short time later.

In this extended interview for youtube, Brigitte gives testimony and tells the full story of her experience and inspiring story of struggle and survival as well as the horrors she witnessed during one of the worst acts of genocide in recent human history.


For more information contact:

Dr. Brigitte Kitenge
African Global Mission
P.O.Box 1696
Antioch,TN 37011
www.africanglobalmission.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• documentary
• news
• grassroots
• outreach
• political
• brigitte
• kitenge
• rwanda
• genocide

[kaudus]

What a moving story! Brigitte is an amazing woman. God bless you and your family and keep you safe.

[moonboy1997]

what a amazing woman...

[slickhbb1]

@Leonce62 EUROPEAN ?????? r u an ass the whole world ...jews r white they had genocide Cambodia china that is not europe u cant blame ppl for what u do...don't even bother to reply cause i am black i am not stupid though.. but your comment was... think before u speak ..u did what u did not the whites

[ZoryanaKos]

The greatest woman!!!

[Leonce62]

All etnicithies are suffering from racial discrimation and its obvious, if we dont really change our mentality. this problem will never end. Rwanda is a beautiful country and we must change the system, restore it and not by copying the european lifestyle.

[jennamarisco]

where the hell is part 3?

[wamwaneriri]

I pray that God heals the hearts of all Rwandans and all the people of the world that have suffered, and those who continue to suffer. Amen

[nakimwelo]

Poor lady!!! May God continue to give u the courage! Hope u continued to achieve yo dreams, if not pliz do! its never too late! (:

[bitandora]

@Remigia1981 Her husband did not. He was

"part of the torture" as a victim coz he was helpless. But he felt her pain just as much.

[KemetMysticYAYA]

God Bless You Bridgette.

[Remigia1981]

There is something I don't understand.

Her husband also tortured her?

God will welcome you in heaven.

You are gifted human being!

[TheDentry]

/watch?v=g6m7UKQ3mjY