At the Kigali Genocide Memorial today, officiating the start of one hundred days of mourning as Rwandans mark the 27th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, President Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame alongside other dignitaries including the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of survivors like Ibuka and AVEGA laid wreaths at the burial place where more than 250.000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi are laid to rest.
President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame lit the Flame of Remembrance “Urumuli Rutazima”. The Flame symbolises the courage and resilience of Rwandans over the last 27 years.
Following the events at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, President Paul Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame headed to Kigali Arena for a remarks delivery. Joined at this ceremony was a selected group of invitees including, heads of diplomatic corps; friends of Rwanda; survivors; youth, institutions and representatives of international organisations in Rwanda.
President Kagame’s remarks were preceded by a presentation by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, who gave chronology of how the Genocide against the Tutsi was planned, dating back to 1959 and the years that followed, emphasizing how what happened in 1994 had been planned for decades.
In his address to the nation, President Paul Kagame honoured survivors for their strength and resilience despite their emotional burden worsened by the fact that we cannot gather to commemorate like we used to due to Covid 19.
“We thank you, for your contribution, your resilience and your sacrifice that you have given in order for all of us to attain a better future”, President Kagame said.
He also credited Rwandans for their immense contribution to national reconstruction even when facing many difficult times that wanted to derail them.
“We owe the national reconstruction process to many Rwandans, who chose to rebuild a better Rwanda that suits all of us, and refused to be tools of bad leadership”.
Emphasizing on the role played by the majority percentage of the population of Rwanda (youth), the President thanked them for today’s Rwanda looking forward and united more than before.
“There is no other time in history that Rwanda was characterised as united or having a shared vision like today. This is also the reason why those who seek to divide and distract us have failed, and will continue to fail.”
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The Kigali Genocide Memorial is a home for survivors, relatives and friends of victims to remember their loved ones and for the world to pay tribute to more than one million victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
We invite people to leave a message in the memorial’s digital guestbook as a way to remember the victims and show support to survivors. You can leave your message in the Memorial guest book here
