Kigali City Mayor Samuel Dusengiyumva has said the events of April 11, 1994 remain a painful reminder that Tutsi were abandoned at a time they most needed protection.
He made the remarks during a commemoration evening marking the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, held at the Nyanza ya Kicukiro Genocide Memorial, where leaders and residents gathered to honor victims killed during the genocide.
The event was preceded by a remembrance walk from the former ETO Kicukiro—now Kigali Technical Secondary School—to the memorial site, retracing the route taken by Tutsi who were removed from the school and later killed.
In his address, Dusengiyumva said Nyanza Hill carries a deeply painful history tied to the mass killing of Tutsi who had sought refuge at ETO Kicukiro before being abandoned and taken to their deaths.
“This hill is the final resting place of many of our people, including those killed here and elsewhere in the City of Kigali, now buried with dignity,” he said. “We remember the suffering they endured, the betrayal they faced, and the lives taken simply because of who they were.”
He emphasized that April 11 stands out as a defining moment that exposes the failure of the international community, particularly UN peacekeepers who withdrew despite the imminent danger facing civilians under their protection.
“This day reminds us how Tutsi were abandoned by those who had come to protect them, leaving them in the hands of killers,” he said.
The commemoration served as a moment to reflect on Rwanda’s history, honor victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, and reaffirm the commitment to combating genocide ideology.
Participants were urged to continue promoting unity and resilience, and to safeguard the history of the genocide as a foundation for building a peaceful and inclusive future for all Rwandans.
