1. What specifically took place during the genocide and how does this vary across the 100 days and across the country? how does this diffuse over space and time?

The film below was generated from data collected by the GenoDynamics project. Brief note of explanation: In Rwanda, there are four geographic levels (in descending size): prefectures, communes, sectors, and cells. The film displays the diffusion of violence through the month of April at the commune level with a three second delay between each image. On the upper left hand side, you will see dates change; on the bottom right corner, you will see the legend explaining the victim totals. Red is the worst category identifying that on a single day in a specific commune between 40,000 and 75,000 people were killed.

GenoDynamics Film 24 Days of a Rwanda Genocide: April 6-30, 1994 (Downloaded as Winzip file and viewed through Windows Media Player)

What does this film tell us?

Overall Summary: According to this film, the genocide begins in three major locations: the middle of the country (Kigali Rural), Southwest (Cyangugu), and Northwest Rwanda (Gisenyi). Immediately following the onset of the genocide, the killings spread to two larger locations in the West (Kibuye) and in the capital city (Kigali). In the initial three areas, violent activity increases. This pattern continues until April 12th, when the killings begin to extend outside the capital, maintaining a presence in West. By the 19th, murders in Kibuye prefecture decrease and those from the city of Kigali begin move towards Southern Rwanda. The massacres in Butare persist until the end of the month (at which point our data stops).

A set of graphs were created to clarify what is seen in the film. Click here for details (Adobe Reader).