Rwanda issues guidelines ahead of genocide commemoration
The Rwandan Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagements has urged the public to observe guidelines issued ahead of this week’s commemoration of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi due to begin on Friday.
The upcoming 29th commemoration will be held under the theme “Kwibuka twiyubaka: Remember-Unite-Renew.”
Commemorative activities to begin the mourning week at the national level will be held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial on April 7, where over 250,000 victims are laid to rest, Jean Damascene Bizimana, Rwanda’s National Unity and Civic Engagements Minister told a news briefing in Kigali on Wednesday.
Similar activities at district level will be held at district genocide memorial sites, he said.
On April 7, all business activities will open after midday, but as it has been the norm entertainment activities, including sports betting will be prohibited throughout the commemoration week.
Also restricted during the mourning week are wedding ceremonies and other mass celebrations, according to the guidelines issued by the ministry.
Bizimana stressed that in line with the country’s development agenda commemorative activities should not hinder normal development activities except during the beginning and closing of the mourning week.
In this regard, roads will not be closed during this year's Walk to Remember and all commemorative activities will not last beyond three hours, according to the guidelines.
Commemorative activities involving members of the diplomatic corps and international organizations in Rwanda will be conducted between April 8 and 12 to remember and reflect on the role of the international community.
The official closing ceremony of the commemoration week will be on April 13.
About 1 million people, mostly of the Tutsi community and moderate Hutus, were killed in the genocide.
