Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Site at Gisozi.

After laying a wreath at the memorial site in which remains of over 250,000 victims of the genocide are laid to rest, the president signed a memorable message in the guestbook at the memorial site.

In the message he left in the guestbook, Abbas, who is also the Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) said, "Today, we recall with deep sorrow and grief the victims of the genocide that took place 22 years ago, and on my own behalf and on behalf of the State of Palestine and its people, we express condolences and our solidarity with the Presidency, the Government and the people of our friend the Republic of Rwanda,” he wrote.

The President noted that Rwanda enabled a conducive environment for Rwandans to live in unity and harmony after the genocide that had ravaged its social fabric.

"As we supplicate to God to grant the victims rest in peace, we all hope the promising future of Rwanda, which presented to the World the uppermost values of tolerance and coexistence after the heinous massacres, established a movement for democracy and modernity and the integration and empowerment of women in political and economic spheres, as well as being the vanguard of the development and the advancement of the friend continent of Africa. May God protect Rwanda and its people and shall he sustain its security, stability and prosperity,” he said.

Palestine was granted the African Union (Au) observer status at the Union’s 21st summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 26 May 2013.

Palestine is a state in the Middle East. Its independence was declared on November 1988 by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). 

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