Rwanda Marks 30th Anniversary of Genocide with Solemn Commemoration
As Rwanda prepares to mark the 30th anniversary of the devastating genocide that claimed the lives of some 800,000 people, survivors like Florence Mukantaganda are still haunted by the horrors they endured during those dark days in April 1994.
When the marauding militiamen arrived at her door, Mukantaganda knew there was nowhere to run. Her husband, a preacher, prayed for her and their children before he was brutally killed with a hoe. “There was nothing we could do but wait for our time to die,” she recalled.
The 100-day genocide, orchestrated by extremists from the country’s ethnic Hutu majority, forever changed life in Rwanda. As the nation prepares to commemorate the anniversary, President Paul Kagame is set to preside over the event, joined by leaders and dignitaries from around the world.
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who acknowledged America’s failure to stop the bloodshed, and French President Emmanuel Macron, who has spoken of France’s role in the genocide, will also be part of the event.
The commemoration in Kigali will include the lighting of a remembrance flame, a walk, a night vigil, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the final resting place for over 250,000 victims.
Survivors across Rwanda have shared their harrowing stories of survival, recounting the violence that gripped the nation for over three months. Many spoke of fleeing their homes, hiding in bushes and forests, and witnessing unspeakable atrocities.
Despite the progress Rwanda has made since the genocide, with economic growth and improved healthcare and education, the scars of the past still linger. President Kagame, who led the Rwandan Patriotic Front party to end the genocide, faces criticism for his authoritarian rule and alleged human rights abuses.
For survivors like Mariane Mukaneza, the commemoration is a reminder of the triumph of humanity over hate. She found refuge with an ethnic Hutu man who risked his life to save Tutsis during the genocide.
As Rwanda remembers the victims and reflects on the past 30 years, Mukantaganda and others continue to grapple with the trauma that feels like it happened only yesterday. The anniversary serves as a solemn reminder of the need for healing and reconciliation in a nation scarred by its tragic history.
