Dar es Salaam. The High Commission of Rwanda in Tanzania, in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator, is set to host a solemn commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on Monday, April 7, 2025, at Mlimani City Conference Hall in Dar es Salaam.
The event will bring together Rwandans, Tanzanian government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives of international organizations for a moment of remembrance, unity, and renewal.
Speaking to journalists at the Embassy of Rwanda in Tanzania on April 3, 2025, General Patrick Nyamvumba, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, emphasized the significance of honoring the victims and ensuring that the atrocities of 1994 are never forgotten.
“‘Kwibuka,’ which means ‘to remember’ in Kinyarwanda, encapsulates the spirit of this annual commemoration,” he stated. “It is a time to honor the memory of the victims, comfort survivors, and engage the global community in the ongoing commitment to ensuring that genocide never happens again.”
A parallel commemoration will also be held in Arusha at the Arusha International Conference Center (AICC), coordinated by the East African Community Secretariat. As part of the observance, a wreath-laying ceremony will take place at the Genocide Memorial site in Arusha to honor the victims.
The genocide, which lasted 100 days from April to July 1994, was systematically planned by the genocidal regime, using propaganda to incite ethnic hatred. More than a million innocent Rwandans were brutally murdered.
Reflecting on the theme of this year’s commemoration, “Remember – Unite – Renew,” General Nyamvumba highlighted Rwanda’s remarkable journey from devastation to transformation. However, he stressed that while Rwanda has made significant progress, challenges remain.
“One of the most pressing issues is the continued distortion of genocide history by those intent on spreading misinformation including former regime officials, military figures, certain politicians, civil society actors, media outlets, and religious institutions. Countering these efforts is critical to preserving the truth, fostering remembrance, and preventing future atrocities,” he said.
