On 7 April 2026, the Embassy of Rwanda and the Rwandan community in China, together with representatives of the Chinese Government, the diplomatic corps, international organizations, and friends of Rwanda, gathered in Beijing to mark the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi (Kwibuka32).

Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, H.E. James Kimonyo, urged the international community to remain alert to the warning signs that can lead to genocide. He stressed that genocide does not happen suddenly but is the result of a long process of division, hatred, and dehumanization. He reminded participants that the genocide against the Tutsi was deliberate, premeditated, and systematically carried out.

“The seeds of hate and divisionism were sown during the colonial period, when the divide‑and‑rule policy was implemented through the issuance of ethnic identity cards based on constructed ethnic identities: Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. What existed previously were simply social classes. The people were visually and ethnically impossible to differentiate. The ethnic division slowly created a distorted vision of Rwandan national identity,” he said.

The Ambassador highlighted Rwanda’s remarkable journey since 1994, explaining that the country made a deliberate decision to rebuild through unity, reconciliation, and a shared national identity, choosing hope over despair and progress over division.

Representing the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Ambassador Hu Changchun expressed solidarity with the people of Rwanda and genocide survivors. He praised Rwanda’s progress in unity and reconciliation and reaffirmed China’s continued support for Rwanda’s development.

“It is heartening to see that, more than 30 years later, the government and people of Rwanda, under the leadership of H.E. President Paul Kagame, have successfully forged a path of development in line with their national conditions, achieving a long-term social stability and continuous improvement of people's livelihood. China understands the sufferings of Rwanda and has always actively supported its national rejuvenation.”

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in China, H.E. Martin Mpana, Ambassador of Cameroon, also paid tribute to the victims and highlighted Rwanda’s extraordinary transformation over the past three decades. He noted that Rwanda has rebuilt itself into one of the safest countries and fastest-growing economies in Africa, reflecting the resilience, vision, and determination of its people and leadership.

Speaking on behalf of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, H.E. Stephen Jackson paid tribute to the victims and emphasized that preventing genocide, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international law remains a shared responsibility of the international community.

He recounted what he witnessed during his time in Rwanda at the start of his career in international affairs.

“Thirty-two years ago, as a much younger man, at the beginning of my career in international affairs, I found myself leading the humanitarian response of a small Irish NGO in southwestern Rwanda amid the unfolding tragedy of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. I can still vividly recall the death, destruction, suffering, and horror that surrounded us then. That experience profoundly marked my life and shaped the direction that my subsequent life and career would take.”

H.E. Ambassador Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, the Permanent Representative of the African Union to China, emphasized the enduring pain caused by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and called for continued global unity in combating genocide, grounded in the clear principle of “Never Again.”

“The Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda was not merely a product of hatred. It was also the result of indifference, inaction, and, at times, cowardice. These lessons have left an indelible mark on the African conscience. They have helped to establish and shape the African Peace and Security Architecture, built around a clear principle of Never Again.”

Representing IBUKA, the Genocide Survivors’ Association, Mr. Gratien Nsabimana, who also shared his testimony, praised survivors for their courage and resilience in rebuilding their lives, communities, and, most importantly, their country. He highlighted IBUKA’s role as the main voice of survivors, noting that IBUKA has advocated for rebuilding lives in tangible ways.

“Thousands of vulnerable survivors have been supported with education and housing, while others have benefited from healthcare services addressing both physical injuries and deep psychological trauma. This continues, with healing that requires both visible and invisible care.”

The event further featured the screening of a documentary that briefly explained the history of Rwanda, a candle‑lighting ceremony, and a poem titled “Twibuke,” performed by Rwandan students in China. These moments allowed participants to reflect on Rwanda’s history, the tragedy of 1994, and the country’s journey of resilience, unity, and renewal over the past 32 years.

Over the next 100 days, the Embassy, together with the Rwandan community in China, will continue to organize commemoration events in different provinces and cities across China.

                       H.E. Amb. Hu Changchun, Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Affairs | Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

                                    H.E. Martin Mpana, the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in China and Ambassador of Cameroon

                                            H.E. Ambassador Alhaji Sarjoh Bah, the Permanent Representative of the African Union to China

                                 H.E. Stephen Jackson, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China

                                Mr. Gratien Nsabimana, the reprersentative of the Genocide Survivors’ Association (IBUKA)