Rwanda Genocide: President Kagame leads memorial ceremony 25 years later

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03:28

In Rwanda, President Paul Kagame has led ceremonies over the genocide that wracked the country 25 years ago. Around 800-thousand Rwandans were killed during a period of a hundred days in 1994. Here is Wilkister Nyabwa.

On this day twenty-five years ago, Rwanda began sinking into darkness.

A darkness marked by horrific killings that targeted members of the Tutsi community.

Moderate Hutus were not spared either.

At the end of the 100 days of murders, between 800 thousand and One million people lay dead.

President Paul Kagame led leaders from different parts of the world in remembering those who lost their lives and their loved ones.

RICHARD SEZIBERA FOREIGN MINISTER, RWANDA "Official statistics show that Rwanda currently has close to 13 million inhabitants, but in this month of April, we are over 14 million because collectively in our hearts and in our minds, we carry the more than one million victims who perished during the genocide."

PAUL KAGAME RWANDAN PRESIDENT "In 1994 there was no hope, only darkness. Today, light radiates from this place. The only conclusion to draw from Rwanda's story is profound hope for our world. No community is beyond repair and the dignity of the people is never fully extinguished, 25 years later here we are, all of us. Wounded and heart broken, yes, but unvanquished."

The event was held at the Gisozi memorial site where the remains of over two hundred and fifty thousand victims are buried.

President Kagame later lead the nation in what is locally referred to as a Walk to remember.

The annual walk is between the national assembly and the national soccer stadium.

In the stadium, a night vigil will be held in honor of the departed souls.

WILKISTER NYABWA KIGALI, RWANDA "The 1994 genocide was a turning moment in the history of this nation, and Africa. One that gave rise to a new Rwanda, that continues scaling heights of success - in peace and economic advances. WILKISTER NYABWA, KIGALI, RWANDA."