On this occasion, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, in the presence of several Heads of State and Government, as well as representatives of regional and international organizations, kicked off the National Mourning Week by laying a wreath at the Gisozi memorial in the Rwandan capital, where the bodies of over 250,000 genocide victims are laid to rest.
After observing a minute of silence in memory of the victims, Kagame announced a national mourning period of 100 days by lighting the Flame of Hope, which will burn for 100 days, the duration of the 1994 genocide (April 7th-July 15th).
In his speech, the Rwandan President noted that commemorating this painful anniversary not only honors the memory of the victims but also proudly showcases Rwanda’s achievements through choices made in the service of reconciliation and national progress.
« Rwandans, who have overcome fear, cannot face anything worse than what they experienced during this tragedy, » emphasized Kagame, asserting that the nation is prepared to confront any challenge and resist any attempt to regress the country or sow division among Rwandans.
He also expressed gratitude to the delegations for expressing their solidarity with Rwanda on the occasion of commemorating this painful event.
In 1994, Rwanda experienced an ethnic genocide when Hutu extremists and the Interahamwe militias launched a horrific massacre operation that resulted in over 800,000 deaths, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
These massacres ended in July 1994 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel movement led by President Paul Kagame, took control of the country.
Rwanda is now considered a successful African model in terms of stability, development, governance, and growth due to policies adopted over three decades.
