Washington, DC., 14 April 2025 ——
Each year in April, the world pauses to remember one of the darkest chapters in modern history – we remember the Rwanda Genocide. In just 100 days, one million people, mostly from the Tutsi minority, were systematically and brutally murdered by extremist Hutu militia and civilians. The genocide was not a spontaneous eruption of violence, but a carefully planned and executed campaign driven by decades of ethnic tension, political manipulation, and international silence.
April 7 marks the start of Kwibuka – a period of national mourning, remembrance, and global commemoration. It is a time for Rwandans and the international community to reflect, mourn, and reaffirm the promise of “Never Again.”
The Roots of Genocide
The roots of the genocide stretch back to longstanding tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, exacerbated by colonial policies and post-independence politics, fostering a climate of hatred. After independence in 1962, the Hutu majority assumed power, and cycles of violence, discrimination, and displacement ensued. Propaganda portraying the Tutsi as enemies and subhumans flooded Rwandan media, laying the groundwork for massive violence. A civil war between the Hutu-led government and the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) further intensified the divide.
On 6 April 1994, a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down, killing everyone on board. Though the perpetrators were never definitively identified, Hutu extremists blamed the RPF and used the event to launch a systematic campaign of extermination against the Tutsi and Twa, as well as moderate Hutu who opposed the killings.
Within hours, roadblocks were set up across the capital, Kigali. Lists of Tutsi targets had already been prepared. Government forces, militia such as the Interahamwe, and even ordinary citizens took part in the killings. Victims were hacked to death with machetes, shot, burned alive, and tortured. The genocide spread across the country at terrifying speed. Neighbors turned on neighbors. Families were torn apart. Churches, once places of sanctuary, became sites of massacre.
The World’s Silence
One of the most haunting aspects of the Rwanda Genocide is how the international community failed to intervene. Despite clear signs of impending mass violence, the world remained silent. United Nations peacekeepers were in the country but were under-equipped and restricted by a limited mandate, and could do little to stop the killings.
Warnings were ignored. As the genocide unfolded, global powers debated definitions and hesitated to act, unwilling to commit troops or call it a “genocide” for fear of political and legal obligations. This failure has since become a powerful symbol of international inaction and a critical lesson in the need for timely response to mass atrocities. It is a stark reminder that genocide is not just about the act of killing, but also about the silence that enables it.
The inaction of the international community remains one of the most painful legacies of the Rwanda Genocide.
Justice and Reconciliation
The genocide ended in July 1994 when the RPF, led by Paul Kagame, took control of the country. Their advance forced many perpetrators to flee to neighboring countries, particularly the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda was left in ruins. Millions were displaced, entire communities were destroyed, and the social fabric was torn apart. The psychological trauma remains deep, both among survivors and perpetrators.
In the aftermath, Rwanda sought justice and healing. The UN established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to prosecute high-ranking officials responsible for the genocide. Through grassroots reconciliation efforts, community justice systems such as the Gacaca, and an unwavering commitment to national unity, Rwanda has embarked on a path of healing.
Today, Rwanda stands as a nation transformed. The country has made significant strides in education, healthcare, gender equality, and economic development. It has become known for its focus on unity, and good governance. However, critics note that the government tightly controls political expression, and open discussion of ethnicity is discouraged to prevent division but also to suppress dissent.
The trauma remains deep. Survivors continue to live with the physical and emotional scars of those 100 days. Remembering is not only about the past – it is a necessary step toward building a future grounded in truth, justice, and reconciliation.
Commemoration and Responsibility
Commemoration is more than reflection… it is a call to responsibility. The Rwanda Genocide is a powerful reminder of how dangerous hate, division, and indifference can be. To forget is to risk repetition. It shows how quickly ordinary people can be mobilized to commit extraordinary evil, and how the world’s failure to respond can lead to unimaginable suffering.
Genocide does not begin with killing; it begins with words, with the dehumanization of the “other,” with apathy in the face of injustice. Remembering the Rwanda Genocide means recognizing the signs, understanding the dangers of division, and committing to the protection of human dignity everywhere.
Remembering what happened in Rwanda is not just about honoring the dead. As survivors share their stories – of pain, survival, and resilience – the world must listen. Their voices are a beacon, a moral call to action against hate and indifference. Remembering is about learning from the past to prevent future atrocities. Genocide is never inevitable – it is the product of choices. And with awareness, education, and action, genocide is preventable.
The genocide in Rwanda was a tragedy of humanity’s failure. But it can also be a testament to humanity’s potential – to learn, to grow, and to change. In honoring the victims of the Rwanda Genocide, we renew our dedication to fighting racism, xenophobia, and all forms of hatred and prejudice. We support justice for victims of mass violence worldwide and strengthen our resolve to intervene when warning signs emerge. Let us carry the memory of Rwanda not as a burden, but as a torch – lighting the path to peace, justice, and human solidarity.
Photo Credit: The Flame of Hope at Kigali Genocide Memorial will last 100 days for each day of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi – Kigali 7 April 2013 by Paul Kagame. Licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0.
“If you knew me and you really knew yourself, you would not have killed me.”
—— Inscription at the Kigali Genocide Memorial
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, an NGO nonprofit in Washington DC. She is the author of Assad’s Syria, and Stories from Yemen: A Diary from the Field, available in e-books, paperback, and hardcover at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, and independent booksellers worldwide. Distributed by Ingram Publishing. Ms. Kajs frequently speaks about atrocity crimes, forced displacement, state terrorism, and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Follow and connect with Lara Kajs on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.