‘Never again’: 25 years on, Rwanda commemorates genocide victims

Ceremony commemorating killing of 800,000 people in 1994 ushers in week of remembrance, 100 days of national mourning.

Kigali, Rwanda – Rwanda has begun 100 days of mourning to commemorate the 25th anniversary of a genocide that tore the small country apart and left close to a million people dead.

President Paul Kagame and several other heads of state on Sunday laid wreaths and attended the lighting of the remembrance flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial to signal the start of the mourning period, which coincides with the duration of the brutal campaign of killings in 1994.

The memorial in the capital holds the remains of more than a quarter of a million people who lost their lives in the slaughter.

“Fear and anger have been replaced by the energy and purpose that drives us forward – young and old,” Kagame said during the commemoration ceremony in Kigali, adding that his country will never repeat past mistakes that led to the genocide.

“Nothing has the power to turn Rwandans against each other, ever again. This history will not repeat. That is our firm commitment,” he added.

SOURCE: ALJAZEERA