Several heads of state and leaders of international organisations are in Kigali, Rwanda for  activities to commemorate the 30^th anniversary  of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

 Presidents from different countries who arrived in Kigali on Friday and early on Saturday include:...Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali plus Andry Rajoelina the President of Madagascar.

Former President Bill Clinton is leading the delegation dispatched by US President Joe Biden. The team includes the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Mary Catherine Phee and  the United States Ambassador to Rwanda, Eric Kneedler. 

By Saturday morning, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not released any public information about the Kampala delegation.

Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, and First Lady Zinash Tayachew arrive in Rwanda for the 30th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi

National commemoration day

It is reported that more than a million people were killed in the carefully planned killings that lasted from April through July 1994.

According to Rwanda media, this year’s commemoration will run under the theme Kwibuka Twiyubaka, translated as Remember-Unite-Renew. Activities will also feature key achievements registered through Rwanda’s 30-year journey to attain unity and sustain growth and development.

The commemoration activities kick off on Sunday, April 7^th. The main event is expected to start with a lighting of the ‘Flame of Remembrance’ at the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Gisozi most likely by President Paul Kagame, which will burn for the next 100 days.

The  Rwanda president has always led the country to kick off the commemoration activities, which are observed by laying wreaths in honour of not only the 250,000 victims interred at the memorial, but also all victims of the Genocide.

On the same day, a national event is scheduled at the BK Arena and will bring together different officials including cabinet members, members of the diplomatic corps, international organisations, genocide survivors, and youth, among others.

Several global leaders including heads of state are also expected to attend the ceremony where President Paul Kagame will deliver a keynote address 

Similar activities at the district level will be held at district genocide memorial sites, according to the guidelines.

The commemoration vigil is also expected to be hosted at BK Arena.

Kwibuka30 international conference

As part of the 30-year commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi, an international conference was held on Friday, April 5 in Kigali.

The event had several speakers paying tribute to professionals who contributed towards preserving memory, healing trauma, delivering justice and ensuring historical clarity.

 During this year's commemoration, UNESCO is expected to hand over certificates of recognition to the four memorial sites for the Genocide against the Tutsi which were last year named to the global body's heritage list.

The memorials are; Kigali Genocide Memorial, Nyamata Genocide Memorial located in Bugesera District, Bisesero Genocide Memorial located in Karongi District and Murambi Genocide Memorial in Nyamagabe district.

Meanwhile, Joseph Rutabana, the Rwanda High Commissioner to Uganda has organised a series of activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary

The main commemoration event is scheduled at the Ggolo Genocide memorial site in Mpigi on 20th April. At least 700 guests, some from Rwanda are expected.

Ggolo is one of the three genocide memorial sites in Uganda where 4,771 bodies were buried. The other sites are Lambu site in Masaka District where 3,337 bodies are buried and Kasensero site in Rakai District where 2,875 bodies are buried. The High Commissioner said that over 10,983 victims of the genocide are buried in Uganda.

In 1994, nearly 11,000 bodies thrown into rivers in Rwanda were recovered from Lake Victoria  and buried by  Ugandan communities.