Locals in Sudan’s western Darfur and UN officials, on Sunday, joined Rwandan troops serving under the AU/UN hybrid mission in Darfur (UNAMID) to commemorat the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.The first day of the Genocide Commemoration Week, was marked by a Walk to Remember and a night vigil in which experiences were shared at UNAMID headquarters in Super Camp, in El Fasher, Darfur.

Worst atrocity Mohammed Yonis, UNAMID’s Deputy Joint Special Representative, described the 1994 Genocide as the worst atrocity of the 20th Century, and spoke of the dark days of despair, fear and lack of hope in 1994, saying this was a result of intolerance and bigotry that had gone out of hand. A Rwandan commander, Col. Ludovic Mugisha, explained that Rwandans’ sense of self-reliance explains why they took the lead in stopping the Genocide as the rest of the world looked on. He urged all present to condemn Genocide and to say ‘never again’ with renewed determination.  Rwanda has over 3,200 peacekeepers in Darfur.