The Rwandan Genocide: 21st Anniversary Commemorations in the Muhanga District

 On April 6^th 1994, President Habyarimana of Rwanda, President Ntaryamira of Burundi and several senior government officials were killed when their plane was shot down on approaching Kigali international airport, the country’s capital (Holzgrefe & Keohane, 2003: 15). This event sparked off the most horrific and deadliest genocide since the Holocaust of the Nazis during the Second World War, in which an estimated 800,000 to 1 million people were killed in a carefully planned massacre that lasted 100 days from April to July.

In the years since, the Rwandan people have commemorated the Tutsi genocide every year for a one week period between the 7^th and 13^th of April. However, for many the genocide is remembered for the whole 100 day period. On April 7^th (2015), President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame lit the ‘flame of hope’ at Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Gisozi. This flame will burn for 100 days.

During this period of genocide, many people attend public meetings in local areas and attend events at memorial sites across the country. The vast majority of those who attend have been directly affected by the genocide, remembering their loves ones and close relations who perished during this catastrophic and immensely shocking period in 1994.

Although there was no specific theme to mark the 21^st anniversary commemoration, the genocide events were held under the ‘Kwibuka pillars of Remember, Unite, Renew, with a special focus on combatting genocide ideology and denial…’ (Musoni, 2015)

On Tuesday 7^th April 2015, the opening day of the commemoration period, Paul Kagame gave a passionate, heart-felt speech at Amahoro National Stadium in Kigali. Our Muhanga ICS team listened to this speech as well as some speeches from local government officials at the Muhanga Youth Centre. This was a very emotional time of mourning and remembrance for everyone present.  

On the Wednesday 8^th our group assembled at the RDIS Hall for a meeting with locals from the area. During this meeting the facilitator spoke of how the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) stopped the genocide and prevented further losses of lives of innocent Rwandans. The challenges the RPF faced, such as limited weapons, food and transport were also touched on. The inability of the UN soldiers to act and prevent genocide was highly criticised by most of those who participated in the meeting’s discussions. The audience was also invited to get involved with the meeting, participating in questions, comments and sharing some personal experiences.

On the Thursday afternoon, we attended the Binunga village genocide commemoration meeting with our RDIS facilitator, Jean-Marie Vianney Sindikubwabo, who delivered the main speech. The meeting’s main focus was looking at how Rwanda has recovered and achieved so much since the genocide. One survivor from this village gave a moving testimony on how he has forgiven and reconciled with his neighbour who killed his own children during the genocide. They were sitting next to each other during the meeting and now have a good relationship. This one testimony demonstrated the power and importance of forgiving one another, no matter how grave and painful the crimes committed may be. For Rwanda to successfully move forward and develop, fostering the values of forgiveness and reconciliation in Rwandan society are absolutely paramount. Today, genocide victims and perpetrators work side by side as a country mourns and remembers this terrible chapter in its history.  

On Friday there was a genocide commemoration meeting at Muhanga football stadium. Symbolic and comforting songs were sang by church choir groups, some church pastors spoke on Bible verses to relate to the genocide and there was a workshop which discussed how genocide can be prevented from happening again. The main themes of forgiveness and unity were particularly encouraged. The Rwandan government has been keen to focus on positive things such installing street lights in communities, health insurance for all citizens and Umuganda, monthly community service for all those 18 years and over. There are also many Rwandans who still live outside the country, whom the government intends to help to further enhance the unity which is expressed across Rwanda.

C.S. Lewis once said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”

References:

Holzgrefe, J.L. & R. Keohane (eds), 2003. Humanitarian Intervention: Ethical, legal and

political dilemmas. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

Musoni, Edwin, 2015. “21 years later, Rwanda remembers.” The New Times, published on April 7^th. Available at: http://www.newtimes.co.rw/section/article/2015-04-07/187642/ (Accessed 21^st April 2015)

The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame

Church choir at Muhanga football stadium

Genocide Memorial Meeting in Kigali