Summary:

• Rwanda’s President Kagame leads commemorations for the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide, pledging to prevent its recurrence. International leaders join in remembrance. Despite progress, criticisms linger over human rights and regional conflicts. UNESCO designates genocide memorial sites as world heritage sites.

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KIGALI (Examiner) – Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, led solemn commemorations on Sunday to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide that claimed the lives of over 1 million people. In a poignant ceremony held at a genocide memorial in the capital Kigali, Kagame and his wife were joined by 37 visiting leaders to lay wreaths in remembrance of the victims, whose remains rest at the site.

The genocide, which unfolded over 100 days starting on April 7, 1994, saw the systematic massacre of Tutsis and moderate Hutus by Hutu extremists, orchestrated by the Rwandan army and the Interahamwe militia.

“Genocide is populism in its pure form, because the causes are political the remedies must be as well. For that reason our politics are not organised on the basis of ethnicity or religion and never will be again,” Kagame emphasized during a separate ceremony at a Kigali sports arena.

Among the dignitaries paying homage was former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who stood alongside South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir before attending the lighting of the Rwandan genocide flame of hope, known as “Kwibuka” (Remembering), at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center.

Reflecting on the journey Rwanda has traversed since the genocide, Kagame asserted, “Our people will never be left for dead again.” His leadership has been pivotal since his rebel force, the Rwandan Patriotic Front, ended the genocide upon marching into Kigali in 1994.

However, Kagame’s tenure has not been without criticism. While he has been lauded internationally for fostering peace and economic development, human rights groups have accused his government of suppressing political opposition and curbing independent media—a charge vehemently denied by Kagame and his administration.

Furthermore, Rwanda’s involvement in neighboring conflicts, such as accusations of supporting Tutsi-led rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has added to regional tensions and security concerns.

As part of the commemoration, the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO designated four genocide memorial sites as world heritage sites, underscoring the global significance of remembering the atrocities committed three decades ago.

Despite the progress Rwanda has made, the scars of the genocide remain etched in the collective memory of the nation, serving as a poignant reminder of the importance of vigilance against hate and division. Kagame’s pledge to ensure that the conditions fostering such atrocities never resurface underscores Rwanda’s commitment to forging a future rooted in unity and peace.