The African Union Commission (AUC) on Monday, April 7, hosted the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, bringing together continental leaders, diplomats, civil society, religious leaders, survivors, and members of the Rwandan community to honour over one million lives lost in just three month. The event was held at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, where commemoration unfolded through activities of remembrance and reflection. ALSO READ: Kwibuka32: AU to unveil Human Rights Virtual Memorial Activities included a Walk to Remember, the lighting of the Flame of Remembrance, and the launch of the AU Human Rights Virtual Memorial, alongside messages from AU officials and diplomats. Addressing the mourners, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, underscored the weight of remembrance and the urgency of action. “We remember over one million lives lost to hatred, indifference and inaction. Kwibuka (commemoration) is not only a moment of mourning, but also a call to truth, responsibility, and vigilance,” he said. ALSO READ: Kwibuka32: ‘We must learn from past failures,’ says UN chief Youssouf said the continent must remain alert to risks that echo conditions that enabled the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “Africa affirms: never again will organised hatred be allowed to become a political project. We must confront rising threats; hate speech, division, and polarisation, with unity, courage, and action,” he added. He also pointed to Rwanda’s recovery as evidence of the power of collective will. “Rwanda’s remarkable journey of resilience and renewal reminds us that history is not fate; it is shaped by the will of people,” he added. Youssouf further urged sustained commitment beyond symbolic remembrance. “Remembrance obliges us to act, to prevent and to defend human dignity everywhere. Africa stands firm for peace, justice, and the protection of all.”
