Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame spearheaded the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, paying homage to the survivors of the tragedy that claimed an estimated 800,000 lives at the hands of government-backed extremists.
During the solemn daylong event in Kigali, which included the lighting of a remembrance flame, a memorial walk, a night vigil, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial – the final resting place of over 250,000 victims – Kagame shared a poignant anecdote about losing his cousin, Florence, in the genocide despite efforts to save her with the aid of U.N. peacekeepers.
Addressing the survivors present, Kagame expressed profound gratitude, acknowledging their resilience in carrying the heavy burden of reconciliation for the nation.
“To the survivors among us, we are in your debt. We asked you to do the impossible by carrying the burden of reconciliation on your shoulders. And you continue to do the impossible for our nation, every single day, and we thank you,” said Kagame.
Foreign dignitaries, including a delegation led by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who was in office during the genocide, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, attended the event.
Kagame highlighted the solidarity and support of various nations in Rwanda’s journey towards liberation, specifically mentioning Uganda, which he said bore the weight of Rwanda’s internal strife and was unjustly blamed for it.
He also acknowledged the role of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who participated in the peacekeeping efforts aimed at facilitating Rwanda’s recovery and rebuilding process.
However, Kagame did not shy away from criticizing the international community for its failure to prevent the genocide, stating, “The international community failed all of us, whether by contempt or cowardice.”
Recalling his leadership of the Rwanda Patriotic Front, Kagame emphasized their role in defeating the genocidal regime and its militias after their campaign to exterminate the Tutsi ethnic group began on April 7, 1994.
Kagame, who spent his formative years as a refugee in neighboring Uganda, has been Rwanda’s de facto leader since the aftermath of the genocide, first serving as vice president from 1994 to 2000 before assuming the role of acting president. He was officially elected to office in 2003 and has since been reelected multiple times.
