( John 17:11, 14) During the genocide in Rwanda, some 400 Witnesses lost their lives. Jesus Christ said that his followers are “no part of the world.” Because they are “in the world,” however, they cannot always escape the turmoil of the nations. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore.” Jehovah’s Witnesses are widely recognized as a religious group that did not participate in the genocide in Rwanda. In whatever land they live, they maintain strict neutrality and apply the principle embodied in these words of Isaiah 2:4: “They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Some of these camps-the largest in the world-gave shelter to 200,000 people.Īmong the refugees were many of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a peace-loving people who apply Bible principles in their lives. Refugee camps were hastily established in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Tanzania, and Burundi. It was the largest and swiftest refugee exodus in modern history. This included 2.4 million who sought refuge in neighboring countries. Half of Rwanda’s 7.5 million inhabitants had to flee. Some people refer to the period as “the genocide.” In little more than three months, over 500,000 Rwandans-men, women, and children-were dead. Within hours violence of horrifying proportions engulfed Rwanda. A plane crash killed the presidents of Burundi and Rwanda. IT ALL began suddenly one day in April 1994.