On Monday, April 7, 2025, Rwanda and the global community began the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, known as #Kwibuka31.
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame led the solemn ceremonies at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they laid a wreath and lit the Flame of Remembrance in honor of over 250,000 victims laid to rest at the site.
In a powerful address, President Kagame reaffirmed Rwanda’s unwavering stance on national sovereignty, responding to threats of sanctions with the bold statement, “Go to hell.” He dismissed allegations against Rwanda, stating, “If these allegations were true, Rwanda would be as rich as you are.”
The President called on Rwandans to stand firm and self-reliant: “To Rwandans, I beg you, don’t owe your life to anybody else.” He emphasized that the genocide would never happen again, not because perpetrators won’t try, but because “there are people who will stand up and fight.”
#Kwibuka31 continues through April 13, with nationwide and international remembrance activities honoring the more than one million lives lost during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
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