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Honouring 30 years: Rwandans unite to remember genocide against Tutsi
Rwandans gathered to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi, a tragic chapter in their history that saw the country torn apart by violence orchestrated by Hutu extremists.
Led by President Paul Kagame and joined by foreign dignitaries, including South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on April 7, solemn tributes were paid at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the resting place of over 250,000 victims.
President Kagame lit a remembrance flame, symbolising the over one million Tutsi lives lost during the 100-day killing spree, an act of remembrance that will endure for the next 100 days.
The United Nations also marked the day as an International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, unveiling a new exhibit at its headquarters in New York to honour the anniversary.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed solemn remembrance, stating, “We will never forget the victims. Nor will we ever forget the bravery & resilience of those who survived, whose courage & willingness to forgive remain a burst of light & hope.”
The genocide, widely regarded to have been triggered by the assassination of Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana when his plane was shot down over Kigali on April 6, 1994, led to a rampage by Hutu extremists and the Interahamwe militia.
The violence saw victims brutally killed in acts fueled by anti-Tutsi propaganda broadcast on media channels. Tragically, an estimated 100,000-250,000 women were subjected to rape during the three months, according to UN estimates.
France, a destination for Rwandans fleeing justice, has seen convictions of individuals involved in the genocide. Notably, in December 2023, ex-Rwandan doctor Sosthène Munyemana was sentenced to 24 years in prison in Paris for his role in the atrocities.
Despite the scars of the past, the East African nation has made significant progress under President Kagame’s leadership over the last three decades. Recently, the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) nominated Kagame for a fourth seven-year term in an upcoming election scheduled for July, a nomination met with no opposition, reflecting the stability and continuity sought by the nation.
