The President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame lit the Flame of Remembrance at Kigali Genocide Memorial as Rwanda marked the 30th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi on Sunday, April 7. The Flame of Remembrance that was lit, will burn for the next 100 days in commemoration of those lost. Photo by Village Urugwiro
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame on Sunday, April 7, were joined by the global community to mark the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
As the country started the 100 days of remembrance, President Kagame and First Lady and other visiting dignitaries including heads of state and government laid wreaths in honour of the more than one million lives lost during the Genocide against the Tutsi. The President also lit the flame of remembrance at Kigali Genocide Memorial.
Also present were Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, President Prithvirajsing Roopun of Mauritius, President Ahmed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania, and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania.
Others include Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the President of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), Denis Sassou N'guesso, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the President of the Central African Republic, and President Isaac Herzog of Israel, among others.
Among the dignitaries present also was Former US President Bill Clinton, Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France, former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, and heads of international bodies including the African Union, the European Union, La Francophonie, and the Commonwealth, among others.
More than 3,000 people including the visiting foreign dignitaries met at BK Arena for the main commemoration event.
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame lay a wreath at the Kigali Genocide Memorial as the country started the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi on April 7,2024.
President Kagame, First Lady Jeannette Kagame and visiting Heads of State and their spouses laid wreaths and observed a moment of silence at the final resting place of over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
Nicolas Sarkozy, Former President of France lays a wreath to pay tribute to victims at Kigali Genocide Memorial on Sunaday, April 7, 2024. Photos by Olivier Mugwiza
Former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki, paying tribute to victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi at Kigali Genocide Memorial
Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary General lays a wreath at Kigali Genocide Memorial on Sunday, April 7,2024.
Louise Mushikiwabo, the Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) pays tribute to victims
Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn and his wife lay a wreath to pay tribute to victims at Kigali Genocide Memorial.
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.
Officials observe a moment of silence at the final resting place of over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.
Several dignitaries from all over the world on Sunday morning, laid wreaths at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in honor of not only the 250,000 inferred at the site but all the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The commemoration event started at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which is also among the four memorial sites that were recently added to the World Heritage List by the UNESCO
The President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame lit the Flame of Remembrance at Kigali Genocide Memorial as Rwanda marked the 30th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi on Sunday, April 7.
Former US President Bill Clinton and Nicolas Sarkozy, former President of France at Kigali Genocide Memorial on Sunday, April 7,2024
Some RDF officers arrive at BK Arena for the commemoration event on Sunday, April 7.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, delivers his remarks at the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Kigali on Sunday, April 7. Photo by Olivier Mugwiza
Several dignitaries from different countries joined Rwanda in the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on Sunday, April 7.
The main event of the commemoration took place at BK Arena where over 3000 people including the visiting foreign dignitaries met.
Over 3000 people including the visiting foreign dignitaries met at BK Arena for the main commemoration event.
President Paul Kagame delivers his remarks during the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi at BK Arena on Sunday April 7. Photo by Olivier Mugwiza
The annual event was attended by Heads of State and Government, delegated officials, dignitaries, friends of Rwanda and thousands of Rwandans.
KWIBUKA 30 ABROAD
The Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to China, James Kimonyo(c) with other senior delegates light candles during the commemoration of Genocide in China on April 7. Courtesy
Mourners observe a moment of silence during the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. The commemoration event was graced by Chinese government officials, diplomatic corps, and friends of Rwanda
Mourners during a Walk to Remember during the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The commemoration event was graced by Ethiopian government officials, African Union staff, diplomatic corps, and friends of Rwanda
The commemoration event at the African Union.
Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the Deputy Chairperson for the African Union Commission delivers remarks during the commemoration at the African Union headquarters. Nsanzabaganwa told mourners that the commemoration serves as an opportunity to honor the exemplary leadership, resilience of Rwandans, and uncommon courage of Genocide Survivors to facilitate Nation healing and reconciliation.
African Union joined Rwanda in the 30th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Ethiopia on Sunday, April 7
Mourners before starting a Walk to Remember at East African Community headquarters in Tanzania.
Andrea Aguer Ariik, Deputy Secretary General Infrastructure, Productive, Social and Political sectors lays a wreath to pay tribute victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi at the East African Community headquarters in Tanzania.
During the commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi at the East African Community headquarters in Tanzania, mourners lit a "Flame of Remembrance' .