Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg, and the football club Arsenal F.C. joined Rwandans in commemorating the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed the lives of more than one million people in 100 days.
On April 7, 2026, Rwandans and friends began a week of mourning and 100 days of remembrance of this history, under the theme: “Remember, Unite, Renew.”
On this day, commemorative events for the Genocide against the Tutsi are scheduled at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, United States, and at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Member states of these organizations are not only remembering but also reminding each other of their responsibility to prevent anything that could lead to genocide again, including hatred, hate speech, and acts of violence.
Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that on this International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, it honors the victims and those who showed courage in resisting it.
It said: “On April 7, we remember the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994. On this day of remembrance, we honor the victims of these atrocities and those who courageously resisted them.”
Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed solidarity with Rwandans, offering condolences and affirming its commitment to combating crimes against humanity and extremist ideologies.
It stated: “We stand with Rwandans in their grief and extend our condolences. Turkey will continue to fight crimes against humanity, racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and extremism in all its forms.”
Luxembourg’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it remembers the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi and honors survivors for choosing resilience over despair.
The ministry also emphasized that, like Rwanda, Luxembourg feels a responsibility to remember, educate about history, and fight crimes that can lead to genocide.
As Rwanda’s tourism partner, Arsenal stated that it stands with Rwandans during this period of remembrance, honoring the victims.
It said: “As we mark the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, we honor those who lost their lives and stand in solidarity with Rwandans.”
The UNDP Resident Representative in Rwanda, Fatmata Lovetta Sesay, said she joins Rwandans and their friends in remembering the Genocide against the Tutsi.
She stated: “We remember the more than one million innocent lives lost in 100 days. We honor the victims, support the survivors, and remember a tragedy that should never have happened.”
She emphasized that the Genocide against the Tutsi was not an accident, as it was carefully planned and widely executed, and that remembrance is a time to uphold truth.
She added: “The world abandoned Rwanda. That failure reminds us of the consequences of indifference and inaction. Yet in this pain, Rwanda showed resilience. Over more than 30 years, the country has rebuilt, reconciled, and united.”
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, stated that the international community must learn from its past failures before and during the genocide and take responsibility to combat hatred, hate speech, and violence.
While 153 countries have signed the international convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide, Guterres urged other nations to do so without delay and to fully implement it to ensure that such atrocities never happen again anywhere in the world.
Post a Comment
LEAVE US A COMMENT