The National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG) on Monday, April 5, announced that the public will be allowed to visit different genocide memorials across the country during the upcoming 27th commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. 

This year’s commemoration will begin on Wednesday, April 7.

During last year’s commemoration, people were not allowed to visit genocide memorials because of the total lockdown that had been imposed country-wide.

According to Jean-Damascène Bizimana, the Executive Secretary of CNLG, visiting the sites will be done in line with Covid-19 preventive measures.

"People will be allowed to visit genocide memorials to mourn their loved ones but Covid measures will apply. They will follow the normal guidelines in place for burial," he said.

The recommended number of mourners is a maximum of 20 people.

"Let us observe the protocols. Let us go to the memorials, lay the wreaths on our loved ones and leave to give room for others," Bizimana said while appearing on the state broadcaster.

He added: "We expect this to among others help genocide survivors who, during these times, need to go where their loved ones have been laid to rest. This will also help reduce trauma cases as opposed to last year when no one was allowed to visit memorial sites and hence a spike in such cases.”

Bizimana also said that there will be local leaders and health workers at memorial sites to ensure that mourners don’t defy preventive measures.

Meanwhile, according to CNLG, remains of genocide victims will also be laid to rest during the 100 days of commemoration in different parts of the country, with adherence to recommended number of mourners.

Week-long national commemoration

On Wednesday- the first day of the commemoration week- different officials will convene at the Kigali Genocide Memorial located in Gisozi to light the flame of hope that lasts for 100 days and lay wreaths in honor of genocide victims buried there.

Also, on the same day, a national event is scheduled at Kigali Arena and will bring together different officials and representatives of different groups of people such as diplomats, women, youth, clerics, the private sector, and others.

At the event, the guest of honor will also give a general address.

As was the case for last year, no community gatherings will be allowed during this year’s commemoration.

Normally, before the outbreak of Covid-19, during the commemoration week, people would gather at the village level and participate in discussions around the cause of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, how it was planned and implemented, its consequences, and ways to prevent it among other topics.

Nonetheless, said Bizimana, there will be talk shows on different radios and television channels about relevant topics for the entire week.

The closing date of the official commemoration week will see the nation pay tribute to politicians killed during the genocide