Addis Ababa: The 31st anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was commemorated earlier today at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, during a span of one hundred days, one million were killed in 1994. Since April 7, 2010, as per the decision of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, the African Union (AU) has been organizing annual commemoration events.
2025 marks the 31st anniversary of those tragic days, a significant moment to honor the deceased, stand in solidarity with survivors, and join together to prevent such atrocities from occurring ever again.
Speaking at the commemoration ceremony in Addis Ababa today, Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs State Minister, Ambassador Birtukan Ayano, said that the commemoration is not only a way to remember the innocent people who lost their lives in the genocide, but also a way to recognize the resilience of the People of Rwanda. Rwanda has overcome this terrible phase and has become a model country in forgiveness, reconciliation, and national reconstruction today, she said.
African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahamadou Ali Yusuf, also said that similar atrocities should never be repeated anywhere in Africa. The Chairperson emphasized the importance for the Union to create capacities that can prevent conflicts in the first place, adding that the Union will work diligently in such score.
Rwandan Ambassador to Ethiopia, Charles Karamba, expressed gratitude for Ethiopia’s key role in promoting peace and stability in Rwanda in the aftermath of the genocide.
The commemoration program included a prayer of remembrance and candlelight vigil, attended by religious leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and students. Religious leaders from the Orthodox, Muslim, Catholic, and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church communities led prayers during the commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The annual commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda seeks to continuously awaken greater awareness of the African peoples and the international community about the value of life and humanity, and to renew our collective commitment to protect and uphold fundamental human rights. 2025 marks the 31st commemoration which will make emphasis on the theme “Remember-Unite-Renew”.