{"id":605811,"date":"2019-04-07T10:38:16","date_gmt":"2019-04-07T10:38:16","guid":{"rendered":"
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Commemorations h"},"modified":"2019-04-07T10:38:16","modified_gmt":"2019-04-07T10:38:16","slug":"rwanda-genocide-nation-marks-25-years-since-mass-slaughter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/04\/07\/rwanda-genocide-nation-marks-25-years-since-mass-slaughter\/","title":{"rendered":"Rwanda genocide: Nation marks 25 years since mass slaughter"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Commemorations have begun in Rwanda to mark the 25th anniversary of the genocide that killed about a tenth of the population.<\/p>\n

The country will mourn for 100 days, the time it took in 1994 for 800,000 Rwandans to be massacred.<\/p>\n

Most were minority Tutsis, killed by ethnic Hutu extremists.<\/p>\n

President Paul Kagame, who led the rebel force that ended the genocide, lit a remembrance flame at the memorial in the capital, Kigali.<\/p>\n

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  • Orphans\u2019 search for family continues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    How will Rwanda remember?<\/h2>\n

    The commemoration activities began with the flame-lighting ceremony at the memorial, where about 250,000 victims are said to be buried. The flame will burn for 100 days.<\/p>\n

    The 61-year-old president, who has led the country since the end of the genocide, is scheduled to make a speech at the Kigali Convention Centre.<\/p>\n

    Who is attending?<\/h2>\n

    A number of foreign leaders are expected to be at some of the events. They are mainly African, although Prime Minister Charles Michel will represent the former colonial ruler, Belgium.<\/p>\n

    \"PaulImage copyright<\/span>AFP<\/span><\/span>
    Image caption<\/span>Paul Kagame (C) welcomes Ethiopia\u2019s PM Abiy Ahmed to the memorial events<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    French President Emmanuel Macron will not be there. This week\u00a0he appointed a panel of experts to investigate France\u2019s role in the genocide.<\/p>\n

    France was a close ally of the Hutu-led government prior to the massacres and has been accused of ignoring warning signs and training the militias who carried out the attacks.<\/p>\n

    France will be represented by Herve Berville, a Rwandan-born MP.<\/p>\n

    Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will also not be there. He has been accused of backing Rwandan rebels who oppose Mr Kagame.<\/p>\n

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    Source: BBC<\/p>\n

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