President Paul Kagame has praised the Czech Republic’s “prominent role” in calling for action to stop the genocide as Rwanda marks the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people.
Several heads of states and diplomats including President Petr Pavel of Czech Republic have arrived in Rwanda to commemorate the event that comes off on Sunday April 7th
Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Czech President Petr Pavel in Kigali, Kagame hailed the “spirit of solidarity and of speaking up against injustice” shown by the Czech Republic, saying it has created “lasting bonds of friendship and respect” between the two nations.
“The Czech Republic played a prominent role in calling for action to stop the Genocide. This spirit of solidarity and of speaking up against injustice, creates lasting bonds of friendship and respect,” Kagame said.
The 1994 genocide began on April 7th, when extremist Hutu forces launched a systematic campaign to exterminate the Tutsi minority. Over the following 100 days, more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were murdered in one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.
This year’s commemoration, known as “Kwibuka30”, is being held under the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew”. It includes a “Walk to Remember” and a high-level event attended by dignitaries from around the world.
In his remarks, Kagame emphasized the importance of learning from the experiences and capacities of other nations, stating:
“There is a lot we can learn from other people’s experiences and the capacities they have built over the years, to be able to build our own capacities.,” he added
The Czech Republic’s vocal advocacy for intervention during the genocide is seen as a crucial moment that helped galvanize international attention and pressure on the Hutu extremist regime. Kagame’s praise for Prague’s role underscores the lasting impact of that solidarity.
As Rwanda remembers the victims and grapples with the legacy of the tragedy, the partnership with the Czech Republic stands as a powerful symbol of the healing and reconciliation that is possible, even in the face of such immense suffering.
The two heads of state also held a bilateral meeting with their respective delegations, the presidency has said.
They discussed next steps in furthering bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Czech Republic, in areas of mutual interest including defence and security, health, trade and investment and technology.
