Rwanda Remembers: Commemorating 30 Years Since the Darkest Chapter

Rwanda commemorated the genocide victims on Sunday, marking 30 years since a brutal campaign led by Hutu extremists devastated the country. This event witnessed neighboring communities turning against one another, resulting in one of the most violent killings of the 20th century.

The 100-day killing spree, which ended when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel group captured Kigali in July 1994, resulted in the deaths of 800,000 individuals, primarily Tutsis but also including moderate Hutus.

Under the authoritarian leadership of President Paul Kagame, who commanded the RPF, the little country has managed to stabilize. However, the aftermath of the bloodshed has left a path of devastation throughout Africa's Great Lakes region.

As per custom, the rituals on April 7, which marks the day when Hutu militias initiated the massacre in 1994, commenced with Kagame igniting a memorial flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial. It is estimated that over 250,000 victims are interred at this site.

Amidst the somber tunes played by an army band, Kagame laid wreaths on the large graves. He was accompanied by foreign guests, including numerous African heads of state and former US President Bill Clinton. Clinton had referred to the genocide as the most significant failure of his administration.