By: Danielle L. Gwozdz
Impunity Watch News Reporter, Africa

KIGALIA, Rwanda –Rwanda is beginning a week of mourning to mark the 20th anniversary of the country’s genocide. The United Nations (UN) chief, Ban Ki-moon, stated that the UN is still ashamed over its failure to prevent the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Tributes were paid to those who were killed (photo courtesy of Getty Images)

 

President Paul Kagame is to light a torch that will burn for 100 days, which is the length of time the genocide lasted.

Ki-moon addressed thousands of people at the capital of Kigali in Rwanda, as Rwanda began its week of mourning.

Many people were overcome with emotions during the ceremony, where some people suffered fits.

The country is remembering the 800,000 people – mostly ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus – who died at the hands of Hutu extremists.

The killings ended in July 1994 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-led rebel movement, marched into Kigali and seized control of the country.

Most of the victims of the genocide were attacked with machetes during the 100 days of slaughter that began on April 6, shortly after Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana was killed when his plane was shot down over the Rwandan capital.

The week of mourning begins with a wreath-laying ceremony at the national genocide memorial followed by the lighting of a flame at the Amahoro Stadium in the capital.

The torch has been carried across the country for the past three months, visiting 30 districts and passing from village to village.

Thousands of people packed the stadium, having waited for hours in line.

Traditional mourning songs were broadcast over the sound systems.

There was also a dramatization of Rwanda’s recent history, which BBC correspondents say was a clear depiction of the government’s interpretation of the events.

President Kagame said at the ceremony that Rwanda was “completely broken” after the genocide, but it had managed to unite itself.

The genocide “simply should never have happened,” Kagame stated.

On Sunday, hundreds of people attended a Mass at Saint-Famille Catholic church in Kigali to remember those who died in the church and elsewhere.

International leaders, including former British PM Tony Blair, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and UN Secretary General Ki-moon are due to attend the ceremony.

For more information, please visit:
BBC News – Rwanda genocide: UN ashamed, says Ban Ki-moon – 7 April 2014
Red Pepper – Genocide Commemorations: Rwanda Begins Week Of Mourning – 7 April 2014
Punch – Rwanda begins mourning week for genocide anniversary – 7 April 2014
Capitalfm – Rwandans begins week of mourning – 7 April 2014
PanARMENIAN.Net – Rwanda begins week-long mourning to mark 20th anniv. of genocide – 7 April 2014

Author: Impunity Watch Archive