As Rwanda solemnly marks the 30th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, a significant number of dignitaries from various nations have made their way to the country to participate in the commemoration events beginning on Sunday, April 7.
Among the early arrivals in Kigali for the Kwibuka 30 (the Kinyarwanda word for “to remember”) ceremonies were notable figures such as Czech Republic President Petr Pavel, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani.
On Saturday afternoon, South Sudan President Salva Kiir, who currently serves as the chairperson of the East African Community, landed in Kigali to partake in the memorial activities.
The evening saw the arrival of several more distinguished guests, including former US President Bill Clinton, Denis Sassou N’guesso, the President of the Republic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the Central African Republic.
Additional dignitaries who reached Kigali on Saturday encompassed Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo, Kenya’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Stéphane Séjourné, the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, and Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the Under Secretary General and Special Adviser to the UN Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide, among others.
