In commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the Tutsi massacre, Rwanda has issued an appeal for national unity.
On Friday, Rwanda began the observance of the 29th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi community, which resulted in the death of over a million people. During the commemoration, President Paul Kagame called for the nation to exercise self-determination and work hard towards building a more united, prosperous country. He made these comments at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which serves as the final resting place for over 250,000 victims of the genocide, located in the country’s capital, Kigali.
“Today, we gather to honor the continued sacrifice of survivors and remember all those we lost during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, which means people were being targeted and killed for who they were,” Kagame said.
Rwanda today draws immense strength from its history, which reminds us to never let anyone else dictate how we live our lives. This powerful legacy informs us that we must chart our own course and forge our own destiny.
According to Kagame, Rwanda has undergone a profound transformation, and the key to this success has been the people’s recognition of the importance of cultivating and preserving a sense of togetherness from the very beginning. This commitment to unity has been instrumental in the country’s progress and development.
The president stated that this commitment to togetherness has instilled in Rwandans a sense of hope for a brighter future.
He emphasized the danger of denying genocide and stressed the importance of opposing any attempts to rewrite history. According to him, the most valuable lesson Rwanda has learned is to transform challenges into opportunities and to achieve a great deal with very little.
The president affirmed that Rwandans possess the strength to overcome any obstacle through their unity, hard work, and perseverance. He expressed gratitude to the friends and partners who have supported the country’s pursuit of justice and development.
In an earlier ceremony, Kagame, accompanied by the first lady Jeannette Kagame and other dignitaries, paid tribute to the victims of the genocide by laying wreaths at the memorial. They also lit the flame of remembrance, signaling the start of the week-long period of mourning for the genocide.
This year’s commemoration of the genocide is being observed with the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew”. Throughout the week-long mourning period, the Rwandan flag will be flown at half-mast as a sign of respect for the victims.
In different villages across the country, Rwandans gathered to commemorate the genocide and engage in discussions around national unity, reconciliation, and the prevention of genocide ideology and revisionism.
Following the national mourning week, commemoration activities will continue until July 4th, which marks the 100-day period during which over one million people, mostly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, lost their lives.