The independence of the Republic of Rwanda led to ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi peoples . Cyprien and Daphrose advocated peace . Cyprien advised President Juvénal Habyarimana to stop the registration of ethnicity on identity cards . He was warned that this stance would place him on a hit list . The couple were killed , with six of their ten children , on - one day after the assassination of the president , which marked the start of the Rwandan genocide
Rwandan genocide
Rwandan genocide
Cyprien and Daphrose Rugamba