Rwanda is commemorating the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, a 100-day period during which an estimated 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed. The genocide began on April 7, 1994, following the assassination of President JuvΓ©nal Habyarimana, and was perpetrated by extremist Hutu militias and government forces.
Survivors like Serge Gasore, who was a child at the time, recount harrowing experiences of loss and escape. Gasore's mother and grandmother were among the victims, a story echoed by countless Rwandans who lost entire families. The international community faced widespread criticism for its failure to intervene during the massacres.
Today, the annual commemoration, known as Kwibuka, involves remembrance ceremonies and a national week of mourning. The country has pursued a path of reconciliation and justice through community courts known as Gacaca and the work of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. President Paul Kagame leads the main memorial ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where over 250,000 victims are buried.
