My name is Georgette Mahwera, but people call me Mama Elise.

After [President] Melchior Ndadaye was assassinated, Tutsi were being killed here in Kinama. Anne Marie was my neighbour and we were running a business together. One day, when we were working in the market, a group of young men arrived looking for Tutsi. They were searching for them in as if they were looking for animals to butcher. When she saw them, Anne Marie came over to me. She told me, "Mama Elise, do you see these people who are looking for Tutsi? This is my end!" She thought they would kill her. I told her to follow me. I don't even remember how we passed through them. I covered her with my clothes and we walked slowly until we reached our neighbourhood.

I brought her to my house. She was frightened, shivering, and weeping. She was not able to breastfeed her child. I told her, "Don't be afraid. No one is going to harm you. Stay here in my house." Neighbours came by and asked, "Mama Elise, where is your Tutsi partner?" I told them I did not know. I denied she was with me.

In the evening another group of people arrived. They were searching the neighbourhood for Tutsi. They told me, "Mama Elise, you have a Tutsi here. You helped her escape from the market." I denied it, "I have no Tutsi here. There is nobody inside." They persisted, "You have one. We know you took her from the market and you brought her to your house." I insisted there wasn't anybody in the house. I invited them to enter and search for themselves if they didn't believe me. They asked me once more, "Are you sure there is nobody in the house?" I said yes and they left without coming in.

Later that evening they came back. They said, "Mama Elise, bring that woman out." I told them there was nobody in the house and invited them again to search the house for her. They were convinced it was me who had hidden her. It was my neighbours who were telling them that Anne Marie was in my house.

We stayed in my home and I asked her not to get out. I brought her whatever she needed. After some days, I started going back to the market. She stayed in the house with the door and the windows closed.

Some time later, our neighbourhood was attacked, and all of us had to flee Kinama. Anna Marie came with us. I told her not to be afraid. We passed by here in Kidumburwe, it was during the night. We went there in Tenga together. We stayed in Tenga for two days and we were attacked. I told her, "My friend, we are all going to die." She was frightened but I assured her that she would not die alone.