Rwandans and friends of Rwanda on Sunday, April 7, commenced activities to mark the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

This year’s commemoration will run under the theme Remember-Unite-Renew, and also focus on Rwanda’s transformational journey in the past thirty years.

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More than a million people were killed in the carefully planned massacre that lasted 100 days, from April through July 1994.

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The commemoration will start with lighting of the ‘Flame of Remembrance’ at the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Gisozi by President Paul Kagame, which will burn for the next 100 days, as the country honors the memory of the victims of the tragic massacres.

President Kagame has always led the country to kick off the commemoration activities, which are observed by laying wreaths in honour of not only the 250,000 victims interred at the memorial, but also all victims of the Genocide in different parts of the country.

The 30th commemoration has attracted several dignitaries who started arriving on Friday to stand in solidarity with Rwandans on this solemn occassion.

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They include Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.

On Saturday, afternoon South Sudan President Salva Kiir, who is also the chairperson of the East African Community, arrived in Kigali to attend the commemoration.

Former US President Bill Clinton, the President of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Denis Sassou N&039;guesso, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic, jetted in on Saturday evening.

Different activities will resume after a four-year halt caused by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. They include Walk to Remember, an initiative that has been given greenlight, despite a limited number of 3000 participants.

Looking ahead with strength, hope

With the commemoration activities kicking off, several heads of international organizations, dignitaries continue to share messages of hope with Rwandans.

Lt Gen (rtd) Romeo Dallaire, the former head of the UN mission in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, said; "My brothers and sisters of Rwanda, as we reflect on the events of thirty years ago, the indescribable loss and the biblical inhumanity, I hope you will join me in also looking ahead with strength, hope, joy and peace.”

"For these are the qualities that Rwanda represents for me,” he added.

Dallaire who is the founder of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security, praised Rwanda’s transformational journey in the past 30 years.

Rwanda is home to the headquarters of the Dallaire Institute.

"The past thirty years in Rwanda have stood as the most profound example of noble and brave peacemaking i have ever witnessed; perhaps that has ever existed.”

"The level of forgiveness and grace demonstrated by the Rwandan people has been glorious, and will stand for all time as an example to the rest of the world.”

The United Nations through its X (formerly Twitter) also shared a message of hope, describing the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as "one of the darkest chapters in human history.”

"On this day, we honour those who were murdered and reflect on the suffering of those who survived.”

"We will never forget the victims of this genocide. Nor will we ever forget the bravery and resilience of those who survived, whose courage and willingness to forgive remain a burst of light and hope amidst this dark chapter in human history,” Antonio Guterres, said in his message.

This year, he maintained, we remind ourselves of genocide’s rancid root: hate.

"To those who would seek to divide us, we must deliver a clear, unequivocal and urgent message: never again.”

According to the UN Chief, today around the world, the darkest impulses of humanity are being awakened once more by the voices of extremism, division, and hate.

"On this solemn day of remembrance, let’s pledge to stand as one against all forms of hatred and discrimination. Let’s ensure that the acts that began on April 7, 1994 are never forgotten — and never repeated. Anywhere.”