Keywords: Rwanda, genocide, historical memory, international forums
In 2014 Rwanda has celebrated an important historical milestone: the 20th anniversary of the Tutsi genocide (April 6-July 14, 1994). Traditionally, from April 7 to April 14, Rwanda hosted a series of events dedicated to the memory of the victims of the genocide. This year, due to the round date, their scale was much higher.
The "Kwibuka-20" campaign*, launched on January 7, 2014, was held not only in Rwanda. It was accompanied by the action Urumuri Rutazima (Kinyarwanda - "Torch of Memory") - a solemn carrying of a torch symbolizing the memory of the victims of the genocide through the cities and villages of the country, as well as abroad, where there are official Rwandan representative offices and/or diasporas.
On February 12, 2014, the memorial event was also held in Moscow, at the Institute of Africa of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Rwanda to the Russian Federation Dr. Jeanne d'Ark Muzhavamaria delivered a lecture 1.
Comprehensive assistance from the Rwandan Embassy in Moscow and personally from Ambassador Muzhavamariya made it possible to organize the author's expedition to the main events of April in Kigali in the format of an official visit.
The results of this trip to the Land of a thousand hills, observations and conclusions of the author are offered to the attention of readers.
On April 8, 2014, at the Caritas bookstore in the center of the Rwandan capital Kigali, I witnessed a rare rush for an African bookstore to see the next issue of the pan - African magazine Jeune Afrique, which published perhaps the most scandalous interview of Rwandan President Paul Kagame 2 (more on the interview below).
The expected idea of the magazine's publishers to dedicate the second April issue to the 20th anniversary of the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda and include an exclusive interview with its president, a man who represents all the chang ...
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