As Rwandans honour the victims of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi which claimed more than a million lives, we take a look at the memorable visit two years ago by the British Monarch Prince Charles who later was crowned King Charles III.
On June 21, 2022, Rwanda received Prince Charles (now King Charles III) accompanied by the Duchess of Cornwall (now Queen), he had come to represent the (late) Queen Elizabeth II at the 26th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Eric Murangwa, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi had encouraged King Charles III to visit Nyamata during his trip to the East African landlocked nation without any historical links with Britain.
Murangwa was sheltered from the killings by teammates. He was recognised by the monarch with an MBE in recognition of his efforts in raising awareness of the genocide against the Tutsi.
Nyamata, located in Bugesera district is where the Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial is located about 48 minutes drive from the capital Kigali.
The next day after arrival, the royals were driven to the Kigali Genocide Memorial where they lay a wreath in honour of victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and signed the memorial guest book.
Kigali Genocide Memorial site is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the genocide against Tutsi three decades ago.
The royals also toured the memorial museum where they viewed photographs of the victims and their possessions, and heard personal testimonials about the killings.
“We will always remember the innocent souls that were killed in the Genocide Against the Tutsi in April 1994. Be strong Rwanda. Charles,” the Monarch wrote in the guest book.
Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial
Murangwa had said in an interview with media that since we are currently living in ‘the last stage of genocide’ which is denial.
“Having someone like Prince Charles visiting Rwanda and visiting the memorial … highlights how the country has managed to recover from that terrible past,” said Murangwa.
On the Second day, the monarch was driven to Nyamata about 48 minutes outside Kigali, and was given a guided tour of Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial.
The Monarch was visibly moved as he was shown around the church grounds. While inside the church, he saw first hand the altar draped with a bloodstained cloth.
Looking up, the roof is punctured with holes caused by shrapnel, after perpetrators in the killings threw grenades into the church building.
The people who were hiding are all gone but rows and rows of seats remain holding clothing and personal effects which belonged to the people massacred inside the church.
In the basement below the church there are skulls of unidentified victims.
Thousands of Tutsi across the country always run to hide in churches like this on in Nyamata, thinking they would be safe, however, attackers targeted churches killing thousands of Tutsi men,women and children hiding there.
According to the memorial’s manager Rachel Murekatete, more than 10,000 people were killed here over two days. A mass grave behind the building is the final resting place of more than 45,000 people from the surrounding area killed in the violence.
