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U.S. Mission Commemorates the 15th Anniversary of the 1994 Genocide

As Rwanda commemorates the 15th Anniversary of the 1994 Genocide, the US Mission in Kigali held its annual memorial ceremony on April 14, 2009 to honor and remember the 25 Mission employees who were genocide victims.  Ambassador W. Stuart Symington and a representative of the survivors laid memorial wreaths at the Memorial Plaque in the Embassy Garden.   

Embassy, USAID, CDC and Peace Corps local employees organized the memorial service for colleagues who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide. Survivors and members of the victims’ families attended along with representatives from religious organizations and IBUKA, Rwanda’s national umbrella organization for genocide survirvors.

Ambassador  Symington said  it is a pity that the world failed Rwanda, which means that the world failed the world.   He added that the United States and the rest of the world should continue to fight for justice, even if judicial processes are slow, stressing  that justice will finally prevail.

The representative of Genocide orphans, Blaise Ishimwe, said there is a message of hope and courage.   “Yesterday we were young and helpless children, but today we are beautiful girls and smart boys,” he said. He extended his gratitude to the US Embassy employees for the support they have received in payment of their school fees and for organizing the annual ceremony to remember their loved ones.