President Paul Kagame has highlighted the importance of using the correct term for the Genocide against the Tutsi and emphasized the urgent need to learn lessons from the 1994 tragedy.

“In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that called the Genocide against the Tutsi by its proper name.

The truth is undeniable, and yet we still find people sowing doubt and twisting the facts up to today. This is not just a matter of ignorance, but something much deeper.”

“It means that the risk of seeing history repeat itself is a constant danger, if we allow ourselves and our friends to become indifferent.”

At the Kigali Genocide Memorial—the final resting place of more than 250,000 victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame officially launched the 32nd commemoration period.

The ceremony marked the beginning of 100 days of remembrance, symbolized by the lighting of the Flame of Remembrance, honoring the more than one million lives lost during the genocide.

In his address, President Kagame delivered a stark warning about the early signs of genocide, emphasizing the dangers of denial and indifference:

“Genocide denial begins long before the genocide itself is committed. There is a pattern of looking away from the warning signs, or taking them lightly. Hate speech turns into hate acts, dismissed as expressions of popular discontent.”

His remarks set the tone for the commemoration, urging both Rwandans and the international community to remain vigilant against the gradual normalization of hate.

President Kagame highlighted the importance of using the correct term for the Genocide against the Tutsi and emphasized the urgent need to learn lessons from the 1994 tragedy.

“In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution that called the Genocide against the Tutsi by its proper name. The truth is undeniable, and yet we still find people sowing doubt and twisting the facts up to today. This is not just a matter of ignorance, but something much deeper.”

“It means that the risk of seeing history repeat itself is a constant danger, if we allow ourselves and our friends to become indifferent.”

Concerns Over Regional Insecurity and International Inaction

Speaking during the commemoration, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, Rwanda’s Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, raised concerns about ongoing violence against Tutsi communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He criticized the United Nations for what he described as a continued failure to act decisively:

“The United Nations continues to ignore the killing of Congolese Tutsi, just as it ignored the warning signs before the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.”

Dr. Bizimana also warned about the integration of the FDLR militia into Congolese forces, drawing parallels with past international inaction:

“Congo integrates FDLR into its army while MONUSCO watches, just as MINUAR observed the preparation of the genocide in Rwanda. Leaders in Congo are calling for hate, similar to what happened in Rwanda between 1990 and 1994.”

Survivor Testimony

As dignitaries, diplomats, and families of victims gathered at the memorial, survivor testimonies underscored the human cost behind the statistics.

Théoneste Ngiruwonsanga recounted a harrowing experience from April 12, 1994, during his attempt to flee violence in Cyangugu.
He described the killing of a fellow Tutsi, Bahati Enock, by Interahamwe militia:

“All the men who had gathered at that sector were killed—none survived. Bahati Enock was murdered there. They removed his heart, roasted it, and ate it, claiming that his intelligence should not go to waste.”

His testimony serves as a sobering reminder of the extreme cruelty inflicted during the genocide and the enduring importance of remembrance.

A Nation Remembers, A World Called to Act

The launch of Kwibuka 32 brought together senior government officials, diplomats, representatives of international organizations, and survivors, all united in remembrance and reflection.

As Rwanda begins its annual 100-day mourning period, President Kagame’s message resonates far beyond its borders: recognizing early warning signs and confronting hate speech are essential steps in preventing future atrocities.