Kwibuka 29: Rwanda’s Commemoration Of The 1994 Genocide

Friday, the 7^th of April 2023 marked Rwanda’s 29^th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and one of the most painful parts of the country’s history that many wish to forget. This day is when millions of people (mostly Tutsi and moderate Hutu) who were gruesomely murdered in a period of 100 days were honored under the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew”.

Hosted in the Kigali Genocide memorial center, the 29^th Rwandan Genocide anniversary involved lighting the “flame of remembrance” led by President- Paul Kagame and the First Lady, and this is expected to light for the next 100 days to represent the 100 days of the genocide that began on 7^th April to 15^th July 1994. This year’s Kwibuka comes at a crucial time when the World marks the 75^th anniversary of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a reminder of how hate speech can spiral into mass violence as well as genocide, and for this reason, the prevention of atrocity crimes is everyone’s responsibility.

The lighting of candles was followed by the observance of a minute of silence for the victims and the placing of wreaths at mass graves where the 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide at the site (Kigali Genocide Memorial Center) have their final resting place. The event was also marked by remarks from a number of dignitaries that include Mr. Cesar Murangira (President of the Association of Genocide Survivors), H.E.Ms. Marie Chantal Rwakazina (Ambassador, Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations Office and other Organizations in Geneva) and Dr. Dean Damascene Bizimana (Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement) as well as Testimonies by the survivors of the genocide.

The President of Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame also gave a heart-warming speech during the 29^th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide where he sighted that the people of Rwanda are doing everything to build peace and resilience against the division, in memory of the victims who were killed for being who they are. He also repeated that the country’s painful past is a lesson that its people can only count on themselves and shouldn’t be able to say no to any attempt by anybody to dictate to them how they can lead their lives. This statement is in relation to the fact that the World turned its back on the country at the time its people needed help the most when millions of people were being butchered in cold blood like their lives never mattered. The President also added that the people of Rwanda have decided to forge ahead without letting the past hold them back, but can’t forget the fact that they were forsaken.

About The 1994 Rwanda Genocide

Happening between 7^th April and 15^th July 1994, the Rwandan Genocide was sparked by the assassination of then Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira on 6^th April 1994, after the Presidential jet they were using was shot down as it prepared to land at Kigali. Following this attack, Hutu extremists and Rwanda Patriotic Front were blamed but this marked the beginning of the most painful 100 days in the history of Rwanda.

During the evening of Habyarimana’s assassination, a crisis committee was established and the next day, the killing of moderate leaders started. This rage spread as Militia, Soldiers and Police began the execution of Tutsi and moderate Hutu Political leaders and Military. This was followed by the establishment of barricades and checkpoints to screen holders of the “National ID Card of Rwanda” which had individual ethnic classifications, aimed at killing Tutsi. Members of the community were pressured and called upon to arm themselves with clubs, machetes, and other objects to kill their Tutsi spouses, neighbors, or friends. “Kwibuka” which means “to remember” in the Kinyarwanda is, therefore, a way of honoring the lives that were lost and also reminding the people to Unite and renew themselves as a way of moving forward.