During the Rwandan Civil War , Kigali airport was a major strategic point . Since Rwanda is land-locked , this represented the only easy way in and out of the country . The airport had two runways , but after the Arusha Accords , one runway was closed down after a request from the RPF . Later in April 1994 , the President of Rwanda 's plane was shot down in the Assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira . It is disputed who shot down the plane , the RPF or the FAR ( Rwandan Defence Forces ) . This event triggered a renewal of the civil war and the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide
Assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira
Assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira
Kigali International Airport