The Kigali Genocide Memorial today hosted the 24th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In an event attended by more than 300 guests including survivors and international dignitaries, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame laid a wreath at the burial place where more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide are laid to rest. The President then lit the Flame of Remembrance, Urumuri Rutazima, marking the beginning of 100 days of mourning.
“We have to keep rebuilding our lives, unite and rebuild the Rwandan society. We can’t be hostages of our history. We all understand the role we have to play to reverse our bad history and draw strength for our development,”
President Kagame said.
“Remembering our loved ones gives us an opportunity to face our past. We are reminded that it’s our duty to ensure that the past will never recur. I want to thank Rwandans for the choice they have made and the path we are on,”
President Kagame added.
Dr Jean Damascene Bizimana, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), gave a presentation on ‘Remembering the Genocide against the Tutsi’ – explaining the history of division and discrimination that led to the Genocide. He emphasized that the Genocide was not an accident, but was rather planned in the years before the crash of the plane carrying former President Juvenal Habyarimana.
During the 100 days of mourning, the Kigali Genocide Memorial will hosts thousands of survivors, friends and visitors to pay their respects to the victims of the Genocide.
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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 killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
During Kwibuka24, we invite visitors to pay their respects by touring the memorial and laying flowers on the burial place.
Visitors can also 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’s guestbook here
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