Thirty years after one of the most devastating tragedies of the 20th century, President Joe Biden remembered the victims of the Rwandan genocide. On April 7th, the President released a solemn statement marking the start of Rwanda's annual period of mourning for the more than 800,000 lives lost in a 100-day massacre that began on this day in 1994. "On this day 30 years ago, a brutal and systematic campaign of slaughter began in Rwanda," Biden said, according to the statement released by the White House.
Honoring the victims, Biden emphasized the senseless nature of their deaths and the resilience of the survivors who were left to piece together their shattered lives. The United States, he said, "stands with the people of Rwanda in their grief" and will continue to "commemorate all Rwandans who have contributed to reconciliation and justice efforts." Biden also highlighted the enduring efforts in Rwanda to bind the nation's wounds, to heal its trauma, and to "build a foundation of peace and unity." These efforts, he noted, still assertively continue to this day.
The genocide, which predominantly targeted ethnic Tutsis but also affected Hutus and Twa, is a somber reminder of the fragility of peace and the potential for human division. Three decades on, the impacts are still palpable not only in Rwanda but also within the global community. The President's address is both a gesture of solidarity and a call to remember that the collective humanity binding individuals transcends the capacity for hatred.
In his statement, Biden also stressed the import of keeping alive the memory of the horrors endured, "the pain and loss suffered by the people of Rwanda," and the overarching character of shared humanity that hate can never truly extinguish. These anniversaries serve to remind the world to remain vigilant against such atrocities, ensuring that history's darkest chapters are not repeated. America's commitment to standing alongside Rwanda was made clear as Biden called to "never forget" and to oppose hate in all its manifestations.
