On 7 April 2018, Rwanda will mark the 24th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi – #Kwibuka24. The commemoration will be observed under the multiyear theme: “Remember-Unite-Renew”.
Rwandans from all spheres of society, joined by the International Community will mobilize to honour the over one million lives lost during the Genocide.
Commemorative activities will be held at community level during the Mourning Week, 7-13 April, 2018 including reflections on the proposed theme, and renewal of the firm resolve to stand against genocide and its ideology. The Mourning Week will be concluded by a ceremony, on 13 April 2018 to pay tribute to the politicians killed for standing against the commission of the Genocide.
Observance of Commemorative events will go on during the 100 days of the remembrance period; building on significant strides made in national unity and socio-economic development.
#Kwibuka24 will take place following the adoption, on 26 January 2018, of a decision by the United Nations General Assembly, to designate 7 April as the International day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, in amendment of resolution 58/234 in its title and operative paragraph 1, which were a source of ambiguity and provided room for tactics for genocide denial and revisionism. Any reference should now onwards strictly comply with the appellation in the decision, viz: the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
#Kwibuka24 affords an opportunity for reiterating a vivid appeal to the International Community concerning suspect genocide perpetrators still at large in different countries around the world, which have shown little or no preoccupation in bringing them to justice or extradition them to Rwanda to be tried. Sincere appreciation to those Governments that have a commendable effort to that end.
The Rwanda High Commission to Nigeria will commemorate the 24th Genocide of 1994 against the Tutsi- #Kwibuka24, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Lagos Osun Hall at 6pm local time. The Rwanda Community in Abuja, friends of Rwanda, Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Civil Society, the Media Community, will honour the lives lost and recommit to never again.
Victor Gotevbe is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of Diplomatic Watch. He is the Managing Director of Conduit Communications Limited.
