Each year on April 7, Rwanda begins 100 days of commemorating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that claimed lives of over one million victims. As previously announced by the National Commission for the Fight Against Genocide (CNLG), this time most commemoration programmes were held virtually with social media and traditional media platform being used as the main avenues. This is due to the social distance measures taken globally in the effort to combat the spread of the coronavirus that has ravaged the world. This years commemoration is running under the theme: “Remember-Unite-Renew”. Considering that COVID-19 global pandemic made movements difficult, Rwandan officials and friends of Rwanda among others took to social media to communicate words of comfort to survivors and families of victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and to Rwandans in general. Below are some of them with their respective messages; First Lady Jeannette Kagame Today we remember on the 26th time victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as our country and the rest of the world are in difficult times. This time helps us to reflect on our history, as we also remind ourselves that our unity gives us power to overcome. Sahle-Work Zewde, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia What happened in Rwanda Genocide against Tutsi 26 years ago has shown the atrocities human beings are capable of. It’s an opportunity for us, Africans, to reflect and learn from where the country is today. No place for genocide ideology in the Africa we want. Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations In a televised speech, the UN boss, he among others noted that: More than 1 million people were systematically murdered in just 100 days during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, adding that: We must never again let such an atrocity occur. We must say no to hate speech and xenophobia and reject the forces of polarization, nationalism and protectionism. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia I express my solidarity with the people of Rwanda and my brother Paul Kagame as you commemorate the 26th anniversary of the Genocide. As a people you overcame a dark time, drawing on unity, resilience and faith. Key values for all of us to emulate in our current challenge. The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat “I would like to pay tribute to the leadership and the people of Rwanda for consistently working towards “Never Again” and for emerging through resilience and unity from the terrible past and putting Rwanda on a development path that continues to inspire many countries on our continent and beyond,” Reads part of his adress. Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary General of Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) They tried to bury us, they did not realize we were seeds. On this April 7, let us remember together the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. Charles Michel, President of the European Council Today we commemorate the 26th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi. We pay tribute to those who lost their lives in one of the darkest moment in our History. We express our heartfelt solidarity with the Government and the people of Rwanda. Ange Kagame, daughter of President Paul Kagame Our hearts and prayers are with all those we lost 26 years ago in the Genocide Against the Tutsi. To the survivors, your extraordinary strength has made every part of Rwanda’s journey to remember, unite and renew possible. Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris Today we commemorate the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda. 26 years ago, a million men, women and children died, struck by human barbarity. Never forget. On behalf of the elected officials of the capital, Parisians, I extend my thoughts to the victims of the genocide and their relatives, reads part of her statement. Adonia Ayebare, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Uganda to the United Nations Let’s stand together to remember the 1994 Genocide against Tusti in Rwanda . Let’s give real meaning to never again. Ann Linde, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden 26 years since the start of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Today, we honour the victims through continuing the fight against impunity and putting respect for human rights first. We must never forget. Ron Adam, Ambassador of Israel to Rwanda The Embassy of Israel stands with Rwandans in the Kwibuka26 commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. We pray for the souls of the victims, and for the healing of the survivors. Never Again! Jenny Ohlsson, Swedish Ambassador for Global Goals/Agenda 2030 Today it’s 26 years since the start of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Remembering the death of one million people in 100 days won’t become big global news today. But we are many foreigners that have visited Rwanda. And we will remember. And tell our friends. Aujourdhui, nous commémorons le génocide perpétré contre les Tutsi au Rwanda. Il y a 26 ans, un million d’hommes, de femmes & d’enfants ont trouvé la mort, frappés par la barbarie humaine. N’oublions jamais. #Rwanda94SouviensToi #Kwibuka26 pic.twitter.com/EHvp363RMh — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) April 7, 2020 Let’s stand together to remember the 1994 Genocide against Tusti in Rwanda . Let’s give real meaning to #NeverAgain . #Kwibuka26 — Adonia Ayebare (@adoniaayebare) April 7, 2020 #Kwibuka26 They tried to bury us, they did not realize we were seeds. On this April 7, let us remember together the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in #Rwanda in 1994. pic.twitter.com/cIGnjgek55 — Louise Mushikiwabo (@LMushikiwabo) April 7, 2020 I express my solidarity with the people of Rwanda & my brother @PaulKagame as you commemorate the 26th anniversary of the Genocide. As a people you overcame a dark time, drawing on unity, resilience & faith. Key values for all of us to emulate in our current challenge. #Kwibuka26 pic.twitter.com/pwlzTZizVc — Abiy Ahmed Ali ?? (@AbiyAhmedAli) April 7, 2020 The stories I use when I need some injection of hope often come from #Rwanda. I met many Rwandans that had to face so much horror, hardship & hate and they were not completely broken. Or they had strength to rise, against all odds. Move forward. That strength is mind blowing. pic.twitter.com/75Uex6Yl8i — Jenny Ohlsson ?? (@jennyohlssonMFA) April 7, 2020 Uyu munsi turibuka ku nshuro ya 26 abacu bazize Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi mu 1994, mu gihe igihugu cyacu nisi yose biri mu bihe bikomeye. Uyu mwanya udufashe gutekereza ku mateka yacu tuniyibutsa ko ubumwe bwacu ari bwo buduha imbaraga zo gutsinda. - JK#Kwibuka26 pic.twitter.com/avM6KhAzQU — First Lady of Rwanda (@FirstLadyRwanda) April 7, 2020 More than 1 million people were systematically murdered in just 100 days during the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. We must never again let such an atrocity occur. We must say no to hate speech & xenophobia & reject the forces of polarization, nationalism & protectionism. pic.twitter.com/54LdvZTsTO — António Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 7, 2020 Today we commemorate the 26th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi. We pay tribute to those who lost their lives in one of the darkest moment in our History. We express our heartfelt solidarity with the Government and the people of #Rwanda. #Kwibuka26 @KwibukaRwanda pic.twitter.com/vP3A5DsSs3 — Charles Michel (@eucopresident) April 7, 2020 Our hearts and prayers are with all those we lost 26 years ago in the Genocide Against the Tutsi. To the survivors, your extraordinary strength has made every part of Rwanda’s journey to remember, unite & renew possible. #Kwibuka26 #NeverAgain ???❤️ pic.twitter.com/dQPDPxwTMb — ??AIKN?? (@AngeKagame) April 7, 2020 26 years since the start of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Today, we honour the victims through continuing the fight against impunity and putting respect for human rights first. We must never forget #Kwibuka26 #NeverAgain — Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) April 7, 2020 The Embassy of #Israel @IsraelinRwanda stands with Rwandans in the #Kwibuka26 commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. We pray for the souls of the victims, and for the healing of the survivors. Never Again! @NARwanda@RwandaRemembers @ibuka_Rwanda @Kigali_Memorial pic.twitter.com/ZlLqtmqdbp — Ron Adam (@AmbRonAdam) April 7, 2020 What happened in #Rwanda #GenocideAgainstTutsi 26th years ago has shown the atrocities human beings are capable of. It’s an opportunity for us, Africans, to reflect and learn from where the country is today. No place for genocide ideology in the #africawewant #Kwibuka26 — Sahle-Work Zewde (@SahleWorkZewde) April 7, 2020
