Resilience and unity shine bright as Rwanda remembers genocide

We will sow the seeds of peace and harmony and we will not let anyone divide us, more than 300 school children said in unison, vowing to foster unity after spending a sombre morning in New Delhi reflecting on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. 

April 2026 marks 32 years since one million lives were brutally cut short in Rwanda when years of targeted hate, discrimination, and misinformation culminated in a 100-day rampage that saw neighbour turn against neighbour in one of the worst massacres in recent history.

"Genocide does not begin with weapons. It begins with words, with misinformation, with dehumanization, with hate speech that hardens lines between communities until violence becomes thinkable," United Nations Resident Coordinator in India Stefan Priesner said as he led the New Delhi commemoration of the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda. 

Recounting the pain of losing her father and four siblings in the mass killings, High Commissioner of Rwanda to India and genocide survivor Jacqueline Mukangira stressed on the need to uphold human rights to prevent a repeat of the violence. "Never again is not just a hollow promise," she told the gathering of diplomats and government officials. 

Three decades on, Rwanda has emerged from its traumatic past to "build unity, reconciliation, stability, and economic growth" by rejecting the cycle of revenge, the high commissioner said, hailing the "will to choose reconciliation over hate" as a key pillar of the country's recovery.

"Rwanda stands united and resilient, an example of what is achievable when a nation confronts its past with honesty and resolutely endeavors to rebuild its future," Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (Economic Relations), chief guest Sudhakar Dalela told the gathering, lauding the partnership and friendship between India and Rwanda.

Displayed across the event venue at Bharat Mandapam were more than a hundred poignant works of art created by school students in tribute to the victims and the survivors of the genocide. "I painted this with shame in my heart because the world did nothing to stop the genocide," a young artist from New Delhi said of his artwork.

In his message to mark the day, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said: "The United Nations stands with the people of Rwanda. And we stand with all those, everywhere, who refuse to surrender our future to fear, division, or silence".