TIMELINE
TIMELINE OF EVENTS
1933
1948
The Belgians, who are in control of Rwanda, organize a census that demands every person be issued an identity card that assigns them an ethnicity as either Tutsi, Hutu, or Twa.
On December 9th a resolution is passed by the United Nations that defines genocide and declares it a crime under international law.
1963
Rose Mapendo is born in Mulenge, Democratic Republic of Congo.
1994
APRIL 9
The Massacre at Gikondo occurs in Kigali, Rwanda. Hundreds of ethnic Tutsis are targeted and killed by Hutu majority in the Pallottine Missionary Catholic Church. The clear targeting of Tutsi people is the first sign that genocide is starting.
Rose moves to Mbuji-Mayi so her children can attend school while her husband starts his career as a butcher.
APRIL 15-16
The Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church Massacre occurs in Rwanda, killing thousands of Tutsis.
APRIL 18
The Kibuye Massacres occur in Rwanda. 12,000 Tutsi are killed at the Gatwaro Stadium in Gitesi and another 50,000 are killed in Bisesero.
250,000+ Tutsi people flee to Tanzania for safety.
JULY
2 million Hutus flee into neighboring countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (then known as Zaire) to avoid Tutsi retribution.
1996
The First Congo War begins.
1998
The Second Congo War, known as the African World War, begins. Over a million Tutsi people are slaughtered.
AUGUST
Police officers show up at Rose’s house in search of her husband. Rose and her family flee to the eastern region for safety.
SEPTEMBER 23
The Congo military invades the Mapendo household; Rose, her husband, and 7 of their 8 children are captured and taken to a prison camp.
1998-2000
Rose’s family endures 16 months in the death camp. Rose’s husband is executed within the first 2 weeks. In order to save her son from being killed, Rose is forced to trade her 17-year-old daughter as a sex slave. Rose gives birth to twins and names them after the commanders of the camp in hopes of saving her family. After months of being starved, tortured, and systematically beaten because of their ethnicity, Rose and her family are transferred to a protection center run by the Red Cross.
JULY
Rose and her family arrive in the United States, residing in Phoenix, Arizona.
2003
2007
Rose is named ‘America’s Greatest Hometown Hero’ in the 5th Annual Volvo for Life Awards.
OCTOBER
Rose Mapendo nominated by Susan Sarandon, named a CNN Hero.
The proxy war waged between Rwanda and the Kinshasa. The Congo government is headed by Congolese Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda who aims to destroy Hutu rebels involved in the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) until 2008.
2008
Governments from Rwanda and the DRC join to combat FDLR
JUNE
Ten years after being imprisoned with her family in the DRC, Rose speaks at the White House in honor of World Refugee Day.
2010
EARLY 2010
Rose opens the first Women’s Center in DRC, offering local women the resources needed to learn, grow and survive.
JUNE
Pushing the Elephant, a documentary following Rose’s story premieres in New York City.
2012
Rose founds the Rose Mapendo Foundation.
2013
2014
The Idaho Public Television aired a special educational module entitled ‘Refugee Advocate Rose Mapendo’
Rose receives the Unanima International Women of Courage Award
2015
Together with the Rose Mapendo Foundation, we can continue to rebuild the lives of those devastated by conflict in eastern Africa. Donate today.
