Rwanda begins commemorating 25th anniversary of genocide that killed more than 800,000 people
President Paul Kagame, who started off a week of commemoration activities by lighting a remembrance flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where more than 250,000 victims are believed to be buried, later spoke to a crowd gathered at the Kigali Convention Centre.
"The arms of our people, intertwined, constitute the pillars of our nation. We hold each other up. Our bodies and minds bear amputations and scars, but none of us is alone. Together, we have woven the tattered threads of our unity into a new tapestry," he continued. The victims buried at Kigali Genocide Memorial were only some of those killed by the genocidal Hutu forces, members of the old army and militia forces called the "Interahamwe", that began their bloody campaign of death on 7 April 1994, the day after the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu.The killings lasted until Mr Kagame, then 36, led the mainly Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front into Kigali on 4 July, ending the slaughter and taking control of the devastated country.
For many survivors, forgiveness remains difficult when the bodies of their loved ones have not been found and many killers are still free. French President Emmanuel Macron is not attending, but has expressed his "solidarity with the Rwandan people and his compassion to the victims and their families" in a statement today.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Week of remembrance begins in RwandaRwanda has begun 100 days of mourning for more than 800,000 people slaughtered in a genocide that shocked the world, a quarter of a century on from the day it began.
Read more »
25 years on, Rwanda hopeful of a better futureRwanda will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the genocide tomorrow. At least 800,000 people, mainly Tutsi, were beaten, hacked or shot to death in 100 days of slaughter.
Read more »
Five people dead at retirement home in France after reportedly falling ill from eating duck saladThe company behind the home runs the largest network of retirement homes in Europe, with more than 800 sites in five countries.
Read more »
Arnold Schwarzenegger shares the first image of him in the new Terminator movie | JOE.ieArnold Schwarzenegger has given us the first look at the T-800 in the upcoming sixth Terminator movie, Terminator Dark Fate.
Read more »
Arnold Schwarzenegger shares the first image of him in the new Terminator movie | JOE.ieArnold Schwarzenegger has given us the first look at the T-800 in the upcoming sixth Terminator movie, Terminator Dark Fate.
Read more »
Opinion: 25 years on from the Rwanda genocide. Can we make sure it never happens again?
Read more »
Rwanda and the world marks 25 years since a genocide that saw more than 800,000 people slaughteredThe killing lasted for almost three months.
Read more »
The 9 at 9: SundaySwine flu vaccine, Isis bride Lisa Smith and Rwanda remembers genocide. Today's 9 at 9:
Read more »