Late on Saturday, April 6, former US President Bill Clinton arrived in Kigali to join a distinguished group of leaders for the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Among the notable attendees were South Sudan President Salva Kiir, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. The commemorative events began on Sunday, April 7.

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Former US President Bill Clinton arrived in Kigali late Saturday, April 6. Courtesy

 

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In a separate announcement on April 3, US President Joe Biden disclosed the delegation of US government officials who would be present at the 30th Commemoration (Kwibuka 30) of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

April 7 holds significance as it marks the start of a week-long series of events dedicated to honoring the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This horrific genocide claimed the lives of over one million people within 100 days.

In a notable prelude to the commemoration, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay traveled to Kigali on April 6. During her visit, she officially presented certificates to four Genocide memorial sites in Rwanda that were added to the World Heritage List in 2023. These memorials serve as resting places for the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, an atrocity that unfolded over a period of three months and resulted in the loss of more than one million lives.

The World Jewish Congress (WJC), representing Jewish communities across 100 countries, also expressed solidarity with Rwanda on April 6 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The WJC’s statement acknowledged the tragic history of the genocide, expressing condolences to the victims, survivors, and their descendants, and recognizing the resilience demonstrated by those who endured the tragedy.

Since 2018, April 7 has been designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Each year, commemoration events take place at the UN headquarters in New York.