Rwanda is a beautiful country with many things to see and do. But appart from the safaris and beautiful scenery, the country also has a tragic history. In 1994 almost 1 million people were killed in an attempt of ethnic extermination. Genocide memorials in Rwanda help the country commemorate the long path towards peace and honor their lost neighbors, family members and friends.
The events have a long precedent of conflict. The majority of Rwandan population are Hutus but the minority Tutsi used to hold the power. In 1959, the Hutus overthrew the monarchy and the Tutsis escaped and formed a rebel group that came back in 1990. A war of three years followed until peace was reached.
The Genocide started when a plane that transported the Hutu president Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down. The Hutus in power blamed the rebel group and started a mass murder of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Violence took over the country and militia and civilians killed neighbors, friends and even family members. It lasted 100 days and atrocious crimes were committed.
Since the end of it, Rwanda has been making a lot of efforts to keep peace and to make sure ethnic segregation never happens again. There are six national memorials in the country, and visiting them is a powerful experience for everyone. You will not only learn about history but also gain a deeper understanding of your role in preventing similar events from recurring.
Kigali Memorial Center
This Genocide memorial in Rwanda’s capital serves as a place of learning and remembrance. It promotes reconciliation and peacebuilding through education. The remains of 250,000 people are interred here, and many visit to mourn loved ones. While there is no entry fee, donations are welcomed to support ongoing peace initiatives.
Bisesero: The Hill of Resistance
Bisesero is known as the Hill of Resistance. Here, Tutsis fought back with rocks and sticks against the Hutus, who were armed with machetes and guns. The memorial is situated on a hill overlooking the actual Hill of Resistance, offering a clear view and helping visitors understand the events that took place.
Murambi Technical School
The memorial is one of the hardest to visit, as it displays preserved corpses on wooden tables that were exhumed from the site. It holds the remains of approximately 50,000 victims and includes an exhibition detailing the events leading up to the Genocide.
During the Genocide, Tutsis in the region sought refuge in Murambi, where a technical school was under construction. It is believed that only 34 people from the site survived.
Nyamata Church
This was a church where Tutsis went to hide from the Hutus but they forced the doors open and killed them. Here you can see a display of clothes and national IDs, as well as the weapons that were used.
The memorial site also includes the grave of Antoinette Locatelli, who witnessed the civil war that preceded the Genocide. She hid Tutsies and warned other governments of what was to come.
Ntarama Church
This church commemorates the 5,000 people who lost their lives here while seeking refuge from the Hutus. The site displays human remains, clothing, and various artifacts. Similar to the Nyamata church, many sought safety here before tragically being killed.
Nyarubuye Church
The Nyarubuye memorial site is near a convent of Catholic nuns where horrible crimes were committed against women and children. In just two days, more than 35000 Tutsis were killed, only 18 people survived.
These Genocide memorials in Rwanda are a symbol of the efforts the country has made to maintain peace and teach the world how the horrible events took place to prevent something similar from happening again.
