By Ignatius Ssuuna
“What didn’t kill us and finish us 31 years ago has hardened us, prepared us for the bad things that will always come. We will not die without a fight like last time.” H.E Paul Kagame
KIGALI, Rwanda — Rwandans on Monday began commemorating the 31st anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in which more than 1 million people were brutally killed over a span of 100 days.
The national commemoration was launched at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame laid a wreath and lit the Flame of Remembrance, a symbolic fire that will burn for the next 100 days. The memorial site is the final resting place for over 250,000 genocide victims.
High-ranking government officials and foreign dignitaries attended the solemn ceremony.
In a powerful address, President Kagame assured Rwandans that genocide would never again happen in their country—not because the threat has vanished, but because Rwandans have chosen unity and resilience in the face of adversity.
“There’s a chance, a significant chance, that if you stand up and fight, you’ll live—and you will have lived a dignified life that you deserve,” Kagame said.
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“What didn’t kill us and finish us 31 years ago has hardened us, prepared us for the bad things that will always come. We will not die without a fight like last time.”
The president also addressed mounting international pressure over Rwanda’s alleged involvement in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where M23 rebels—who are widely believed to be Tutsi-dominated—have seized territory. Both Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and the United Nations accuse Rwanda of backing the group, claims Kigali denies.
“Those who say they are sanctioning us—I tell them to their face: go to hell,” Kagame declared.
“My worry is not how powerful these people are. I worry about one thing: Rwandans and Africans who sit back and find nothing wrong with accepting to be treated like that. That’s my only worry—we must not accept it. We must get up and fight for ourselves.”
The Rwandan government has long criticized the international community for ignoring early warnings of the 1994 genocide. Some Western leaders have since expressed regret, but tensions over foreign interference remain.
Kagame, who has been praised for ushering in economic growth and relative stability, also faces criticism for suppressing political opposition and dissent.
“For my sanity and my country’s sanity, sometimes we have to do things differently,” he said. “If you want to be helpful, if you want us to be partners, we are happy to play our part. And you can be sure you’ll find a reliable partner in us—regardless of what we think about you.”
Commemoration events will continue throughout the week. On Monday afternoon, Rwandans are expected to take part in the Walk to Remember, a poignant tribute to genocide victims. A night vigil will follow, allowing citizens to reflect on the tragedy and honor those lost.
The genocide was triggered on April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying then-President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down near Kigali. The crash also killed Cyprien Ntaryamira, President of neighboring Burundi. Both leaders had just returned from peace talks with Tutsi-led rebels.
The attack sparked one of the most horrific episodes of violence in modern history, as Hutu extremists unleashed a campaign of mass murder, targeting Tutsis and moderate Hutus across the country.
