President Kagame blames World's inaction in 1994 Genocide

Source: Capital FM Kenya
Author: Laban Wanambisi

NAIROBI, Kenya Apr 8 - Rwanda's President Paul Kagame led the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi as he paid tribute to the survivors of the tragedy which left an estimated 800,000 people were killed by government-backed extremists.

He made the remarks during the daylong event in Kigali will include the lighting of a remembrance flame, a walk, a night vigil and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which is the final resting place for the remains of over 250,000 victims of the slaughter.

Kagame also shared an emotional story of how lost his cousin Florence as he tried to save with the help of U.N. peacekeepers. She did not survive.

"To the survivors among us, we are in your debt. We asked you to do the impossible by carrying the burden of reconciliation on your shoulders. And you continue to do the impossible for our nation, every single day, and we thank you," said the Rwanda President.

The event was attended by foreign visitors included a delegation led by Bill Clinton, the U.S. president during the genocide, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

President Kagame recognised the solidarity and contribution of many countries in Rwanda's quest for liberation - including Uganda.

"Uganda carried the burden of Rwanda's internal problems and was even blamed for that," he stated

Kagame recounted the role Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed who he said was part of the peace-keeping force deployed to help in the rebuilding process.

The Rwandan President also blamed the inaction of the international community for allowing the 1994 genocide to happen.

"The international community failed all of us, whether by contempt or cowardice," he said.

President Kagame led the Rwanda Patriot Front to defeat the genocidal regime and its militias after it launched campaign to exterminate the Tutsi ethnic group on the 7th of April 1994.

Kagame, who grew up as a refugee in neighboring Uganda, has been Rwanda's de facto ruler, first as vice president from 1994 to 2000, then as acting president. He was voted into office in 2003 and has since been reelected multiple times.