Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation joined senior dignitaries, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of families of victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, former UN staff, heads of UN agencies, and other guests at the United Nations premises in Kigali this Wednesday for the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The event paid tribute to the victims, including former UN staff, while reaffirming a shared commitment to prevent future atrocities.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, Olivier Nduhungirehe, underscored that the commemoration is centered on honoring the victims rather than the crime itself.
“We do not commemorate the genocide; we commemorate the victims of that crime, those who were killed for who they were,” he said.
He paid tribute to the 64 UN personnel remembered at the site, highlighting their service to humanity and the United Nations’ core principles.
“They served the noble mission and values of the United Nations. Today, we also remember colleagues, friends, and neighbors whose lives were shattered during those 100 days,” he added.
Reflecting on the events of 1994, the minister described the genocide as a profound failure of humanity, noting that while international discussions continued, mass killings persisted across Rwanda.
“While debates were ongoing in New York, thousands of Tutsis were being massacred each day. The promise of ‘never again’ was broken,” he said.
He further acknowledged individuals who demonstrated exceptional courage during the genocide, including UN peacekeepers and diplomats who took risks to protect lives despite limited international support.
“Even in the darkest hour, some chose courage over indifference and humanity over fear,” he noted.
The Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Rwanda, Dr. Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, also recognized the United Nations’ failure to prevent the genocide, emphasizing that this acknowledgment should drive stronger global responsibility.
“The international community failed Rwanda. That acknowledgment must not remain a source of shame alone, but a foundation for an unbreakable commitment, never again must be a living obligation,” she said.
Sesay stressed that remembrance extends beyond mourning, describing it as a collective duty to prevent similar tragedies worldwide.
“We gather to mourn, to honor, and to reaffirm that such atrocities must never happen again to anyone, anywhere in the world,” she said.
She commended Rwanda’s recovery journey, portraying it as a powerful example of resilience, unity, and reconciliation in the aftermath of tragedy.
“Rwanda has shown the world that even after unimaginable tragedy, a nation can choose unity over division, reconciliation over hatred, and hope over despair,” she added.
A testimony from genocide survivor Agnes Twagiramariya illustrated the human impact of the genocide.
Her husband, Emmanuel Turatsinze, a former UN staff member, was killed on April 13, 1994, when militias attacked their home. At the time, she was pregnant. Eight members of her family were also killed.
Despite the circumstances, she survived by hiding in drainage trenches and navigating dangerous roadblocks. The child she was carrying at the time survived and is now a successful businessman.
Speakers at the commemoration cautioned against genocide denial and distortion, reaffirming that the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is an established historical fact recognized under international law.
“Genocide denial is not neutral; it is an act of violence against survivors and against truth,” Dr. Sesay said.
They also pointed to ongoing global challenges, including rising conflict, misinformation, and hate speech, warning that such trends could contribute to future atrocities if not addressed.
As Rwanda marks 32 years since the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, participants called for remembrance to be matched with concrete action.
“Remembrance without action is not enough,” Dr. Sesay stressed. “We owe it to the victims, the survivors, and to humanity.”
The speakers emphasized a unified call for vigilance, unity, and a renewed global commitment to safeguarding human dignity and preventing future atrocities.
This commemoration is taking place within Rwanda’s 100-day period of remembrance for the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, during which over one million people were killed. The genocide was stopped by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the military wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), which launched a liberation struggle in 1990 and ultimately brought an end to the killings in 1994.
Photos by @UNRwanda
