Bisesero Genocide Memorial
At a glance
| Location | Bisesero, Karongi District, Western Province |
|---|---|
| Listing | UNESCO World Heritage, 2023, with Nyamata, Murambi and Gisozi |
| Known as | The memorial of resistance |
| Managed by | Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) |
Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero; Rwanda Development Board: RDB staff commemorate 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi1,2
What happened
In April 1994 Tutsi from Bisesero and the neighbouring sectors gathered on the hills, around Muyira hill, and organised their defence with stones and spears. They held out against militias and soldiers for more than two months. Of the more than 50,000 people who took refuge there, about 1,300 survived. A survivor’s account published by UNESCO describes 13 May 1994 as the darkest day, when more than 30,000 people were killed.1,2,3
The memorial today
The memorial was built in 1998 on the hillside facing Muyira. UNESCO includes Bisesero in the listing because it is associated with the struggle of those who resisted. Between 50,000 and 60,000 victims are buried there.1,3
Visiting
Visitors are asked to dress and behave respectfully and to follow the rules set at each site. The national commemoration, Kwibuka, begins on 7 April each year and lasts 100 days.1
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Bisesero Genocide Memorial?
In the hills of Karongi District, Western Province. It was built in 1998.
What happened at Bisesero?
More than 50,000 Tutsi took refuge on the hills and resisted their attackers for more than two months. About 1,300 survived.
Why is Bisesero part of the UNESCO listing?
Because it is associated with the struggle of those who resisted.
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Memorial sites of the Genocide: Nyamata, Murambi, Gisozi and Bisesero
- Rwanda Development Board: RDB staff commemorate 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi
- UNESCO: Kwibuka, Rwanda 1994, remembering the genocide against the Tutsi (photo essay)
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestRwanda.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.
