There was one time I almost died. When the Tutsi soldiers came to restore order, they found two Tutsi adults and three children in my house. But I was also hiding some Hutu, who asked me to protect them. There were eight Hutu in total. The soldiers told them to lie down and they stabbed them. Four of them died and four were injured. I was next. The soldier who did this came to kill me with a machete. I reflexively turned my head down. The Tutsi I saved shouted at him to stop. "That man didn't do anything. He saved our lives."

I can say that all I have done is thanks to God.

Q: Why did you risk your life to save those people?
Because I am a catechist. The fifth commandment says you should not kill. I know there is no reason to kill my fellow human being. We are all brothers and sisters, from the same parent, from the same God. We are from the same Adam and Eve. I really felt inside that I could not hurt anyone.

Interview by Maziar Bahari
Translated by Gladys Ntibareha
Edited by David Shem-Tov