#Kwibuka23 Rwanda to begin annual remembrance of those massacred in the 1994 Genocide
Kwibuka is a Kinyarwanda word for ‘remembrance’ and describes the annual 100 days of annual mourning from 7 April until 4 July for the estimated more than 800,000 Rwandans killed during the 100-day period from April 7 to mid-July 1994.
Kwibuka is a series of events taking place in Rwanda and around the world calling for all to come together to support the survivors of the genocide, and to ensure that such an atrocity can never happen again – in Rwanda or elsewhere. A time to learn about the story of reconciliation and national building in Rwanda.
Kigali Genocide memorial will be holding events as it is the final resting place for more than 250,000 victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, one of six national memorials located across Rwanda.
A diplomatic row between Rwanda and the United Nations (UN) over the definition of what unfolded in Rwanda in 1994 ‘genocide’ has overshadowed the preparations for this year’s commemoration event, reports the Standard.
1. The @UN refers to this event as Genocide in #Rwanda and we all know the Genocide was carried out Against the Tutsi #Kwibuka23
— Rwanda In Kenya🇷🇼 (@RwandaInKenya) April 5, 2017
According to the report, the Rwanda embassy in Kenya will not attend the event by the UN as an expression of displeasure with the United Nation’s reference of the mass killings in 1994 as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’, Rwanda’s envoy in Kenya says that massacres in Rwanda in 1994 were directed at a specific group of people, the Tutsi, and that it was incorrect to refer to it as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’.
Tomorrow the Flame of Remembrance will be lit at @Kigali_Memorial to begin 100 days of mourning the Genocide against the Tutsi – #Kwibuka23 pic.twitter.com/AOF7rtIcWL
— Kigali Genocide Memorial (@Kigali_Memorial) April 6, 2017
The world has joined Rwandans in mourning the victims of genocide.
As anniversary of genocide against Tutsi approaches, my heart goes out to all my Rwandan friends, esp survivors. Never forget. #Kwibuka23 pic.twitter.com/kneRP6O28E
— Simon Adams (@SAdamsR2P) April 6, 2017
On 7 April 2017, #Rwanda-ns will pose to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi which claimed more than 1 million lives #Kwibuka23 pic.twitter.com/RMAg4X0nJQ
— Richard Kwizera (@Muzungu4) April 6, 2017
Amb Kimonyo: #Kwibuka23 presents us an opportunity to honour memories of those who died and offer support to those who survived.
— Rwanda In Kenya🇷🇼 (@RwandaInKenya) April 5, 2017
Students at @CarnegieMellon in the US have painted the famous Carnegie fence with messages of solidarity w/ #Rwanda ahead of #Kwibuka23 pic.twitter.com/ljFRUnVx45
— The New Times (Rwanda) (@NewTimesRwanda) April 5, 2017
