Observed annually on 7 April, the anniversary commemorates one of the darkest chapters in modern history, when more than one million people were killed in just 100 days between April and July 1994 in a systematic campaign of mass violence targeting the Tutsi population.
This year’s commemoration was held under the theme “Remember, Unite, Renew,” a message that resonates beyond Rwanda’s borders and underscores the global responsibility to prevent such atrocities from recurring.
Egypt was represented at the ceremony by Ambassador Karim Sherif, Assistant Foreign Minister for African Affairs, who attended as guest of honour on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptians Abroad Badr Abdelatty.
The event was also attended by Czech Ambassador Ivan Jukl, Major General Ismail Abdel Aziz, Chairman of the Egyptian-Moroccan Businessmen Association, Hossam Darwish, President of the Afro-Asian Union (AFASU), and Major General Ashraf Abu Eish, Secretary-General of AFASU.
In his remarks, Ambassador Sherif reaffirmed Egypt’s solidarity with Rwanda and paid tribute to the victims of the genocide. He described the events of 1994 as a profound tragedy in which communities were torn apart, families were destroyed, and countless children were left orphaned.
He characterised the genocide as a stain on humanity’s collective conscience and a stark reminder of the destructive consequences of hate speech and division. He also pointed to the enduring responsibility of the international community, noting that failure to act in the face of such crimes must not be repeated.
Sherif also highlighted Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery as an example of resilience and national determination, citing progress in economic development, healthcare, education, environmental policy, and the inclusion of women in governance and peacebuilding.
Rwanda’s Ambassador to Egypt, CG Dan Munyuza, delivered the keynote address, placing the genocide within its broader historical and ideological context. He rejected interpretations that frame the events as a spontaneous outbreak of violence, describing them instead as the result of decades of systematic discrimination, hate, and dehumanisation.
“Genocide does not begin with weapons,” he said. “It begins with words — with narratives that portray entire communities as threats. Left unchallenged, such rhetoric becomes a pathway to violence.”
Munyuza stressed that remembrance is both a moral and historical responsibility, honouring victims and ensuring that future generations understand the consequences of hatred and division. He also warned that genocide denial and revisionism remain ongoing challenges, increasingly amplified through digital platforms and emerging technologies.
The ambassador expressed appreciation for Egypt’s continued cooperation with Rwanda across multiple sectors, including security, education, agriculture, trade, and healthcare.
Concluding his remarks, he called for a collective commitment to rejecting hate in all its forms, emphasising that preserving the memory of the victims is essential to building a more just and peaceful future.
In 2018, the United Nations General Assembly designated 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In Rwanda, commemorations extend over 100 days, reflecting the duration of the genocide.
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