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By Annonciata Byukusenge
President Paul Kagame has reaffirmed that the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi will never repeat itself, stressing that Rwandans will never again face the kind of mass violence that devastated the country.
He made these remarks on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, during the official launch of the Week of Remembrance and the 100-day commemoration marking the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
H.E. Kagame emphasized that times have fundamentally changed, pointing to the lessons Rwanda has learned and the resilience it has built since 1994. He made it clear that the conditions that once allowed such atrocities to happen no longer exist.
“Times have changed completely. No one will ever die the way people did back then. It’s impossible to kill someone twice. And if anyone tries, they will face the consequences before they succeed.”
He also highlighted the importance of survivor testimonies, noting that they serve as powerful reminders to those who attempt to deny or downplay what happened. According to him, the truth about the Genocide is undeniable and cannot be rewritten.
“What we’ve heard from survivors like Théoneste is deeply rooted in truth. These are real experiences, and they speak for themselves. ” Said H.E. Kagame.
He added that efforts to distort or deny Rwanda’s history, especially by some outside the country, will ultimately fail.
“Those who try to rewrite this history have a difficult task ahead of them. You cannot simply reshape the lived experiences of people into something else, whether here at home or abroad.”
During the same event, the Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Jean Damascène Bizimana, stressed that remembering the Genocide should also serve as a lesson to the international community. He pointed out the importance of upholding global commitments to prevent genocide, as outlined by the United Nations.
Bizimana explained that clear warning signs had been visible as early as 1990 but were largely ignored by both international actors and leaders present in Rwanda at the time.
“From 1990 onwards, there were unmistakable signs that a genocide was being prepared, yet they were overlooked. The government at the time even promoted propaganda portraying Tutsis as enemies of the nation.”
He traced the roots of the Genocide back to the political leadership of that era, noting that divisive policies based on ethnicity and regionalism were openly promoted.
“The foundation of the Genocide was laid under President Habyarimana’s leadership. As early as August 1, 1973, he declared that governance would be based on ethnic and regional divisions.”
Minister Bizimana added that between 1990 and 1994, the Genocide was systematically prepared and eventually carried out while the international community largely stood by. Even afterward, he said, many commitments made in response were not properly upheld.
A survivor, Théoneste Ngiruwonsanga, who lived through the Genocide in what was then Cyangugu Prefecture, shared a deeply moving testimony. He described how fear and discrimination had long been part of daily life for Tutsi families, even before the violence reached its peak.
“Before the Genocide, Tutsi families on our hill lived in constant fear.”
He recounted how killings had already begun as far back as 1964, when his grandfather was murdered and thrown into Lake Kivu. In the years leading up to 1994, several members of his family were killed, and he himself faced persecution at school.
Overall, the message delivered at the launch of the 32nd commemoration was clear: remembering is not just about looking back; it is about ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again. This requires confronting denial, preserving the truth, and continuing to build a society rooted in unity and dignity.
The theme of the Kwibuka32 is Remember, Renew.
