28 years ago, the civil war in Rwanda erupted, a conflict that caused the death of more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in just 100 days.
This year, the African Union chose the theme ‘Remember-Unite-Renew’ and reaffirmed its commitment to prevent and fight genocide on the Continent.
On 7th April, the president of Rwanda Paul Kagame, lit the remembrance flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where more than 250,000 victims rest.
National mourning will last until 13th April while commemoration activities will go on until 3rd July, they will be lasting 100 days, the length of the conflict back in 1994.
This civil war started a day after a mysterious plane crash claimed the lives of the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi.
For over two decades, historians, local and international judicial investigators worked on the conflict and nonetheless, the extent and circumstances of this accident and the following massacres continue to raise questions.
Especially among those who escaped and outlived the genocide.
Belgium and especially France have been singled out for their friendship with the Hutu extremist regime who butchered the Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
In 2021, President Emmanuel Macron said France “had a role, a history and some political responsibility” a first among French leaders.
However, Macron did not say France played an active part in what is considered to be one of the worst genocides of modern history.
africanews
