Rwanda began 100 days of mourning with formal ceremonies on Sunday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, which claimed the lives of 800,000 Hutus and Tutsis.
President Paul Kagame alongside other dignitaries laid the wreaths and attended the lighting of the remembrance flame at the Genocide Memorial to mark the commencement of the mourning.
Speaking at the commemoration service in Kigali, Kagame said, “We Rwandans have granted ourselves a new beginning. We exist in a state of permanent commemoration, every day, in all that we do … Today, light radiates from this place.”
Vice President Yem Osinbajo, alongside other dignitaries including the leaders of Belgium, Chad, Canada, Ethiopia, Niger, Republic of Congo, African Union (AU), and European Union (EU).
After the service, songs, poems, and plays were performed, at the Kigali Convention Centre. The performance signified the rebirth of Rwanda, following the genocide.
In addition, a procession was held through the capital to the National Stadium, which about 30,000 people participated.
