About the commemoration

We REMEMBER to honor the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, to reflect upon the magnitude of the 1994 Genocide, and how it left Rwanda in chaos. We UNITE to build together a stronger nation, and to strive for peace. We RENEW our commitment to shape a new Rwanda that will continue to be a beacon of peace and unity; to inspire people around the globe to value human rights and treasure the preciousness of life so that Genocide never happens again on our planet.

25 years ago, Rwanda and its citizens experienced an unspeakable genocide “the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi” which was carefully planned, meticulously executed, and energetically supervised by a Hutu extremist government which transformed regular citizens into militias, called and trained them to wipe out the Ethnic Tutsi. During the 100 days that characterized the unthinkable genocide, over one million lives were brutally killed, and Rwanda left into darkness that no one would ever thought.

Before it all started, especially during the 1990s, the extremist Hutu government waged an all-out propaganda campaign of political hate speech to incite Hutus to hate Tutsis. They would use inflammatory speech to turn neighbors, co-workers, family members, and friends into enemies. The notion of being nobodies, cockroaches, and snakes, for Tutsis began to take common form in the culture and norms of the day. During the 100 days when militias and military were killing Tutsis, including babies, young, adults, and elderly; the world watched silently. Only a small group of Rwandans took the risk for their own lives, putting first innocent lives and fought to stop the Genocide. These heroes walked days and nights saving lives in villages, cities, and in the Kigali Capital; thus, completely stopping the genocide. United Nations and world leaders failed us; delaying to recognize what was happening in Rwanda; refusing to call it genocide, and cruelly withdrawing the UN Mission Assistance to Rwanda from Rwanda. This decision resulted into the loss of over one million innocent lives and left Rwanda in chaos. Rwanda was completely destroyed, inheriting a huge responsibility to care for physically, emotionally, morally, and still fearing for safety, survivors of the unthinkable genocide but also finding ways to rebuild a completely destroyed nation.

If it wasn’t of the Rwandan remarkable leadership let by President Paul Kagame that called Rwandans to put differences aside, to care for one another, to turn to unity and reconciliation, to stay strong and resilient, to be mirrors of the preciousness of life; who knows what Rwanda would have become. It is with God’s grace that we are gifted with an incredible leadership that worked tirelessly to help Rwandans become more aware of the benefits of unity and reconciliation; adopting and using unique strategies to turn Rwanda into an amazing country. Today, Rwanda has become a beacon of peace and security; a platform of learning and global meetings.

In the Midwest, USA, we are holding two-day events celebrating the lives of those we lost and commemorating for the 25th time. These events will focus on sharing survivors experiences with the public so our communities may learn how peace and unity are critical to building and strengthening a country. We are calling our friends, neighbors, and the public to stand with us as we remember the victims and reflect upon the path to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda’s healing, resilience, and rebuilding process are a lesson to the world. It is important that our friends understand the uniqueness of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi so as to avoid similar situations from happening anywhere else on our planet.