The remains of 4,209 victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi were reburied Monday at the Murambi Genocide Memorial in Southern Rwanda, as the country intensifies efforts to consolidate and protect its genocide memorial sites.
The reburial, which followed the relocation of remains from Nyamigina village, marks a significant phase in Rwanda’s ongoing memorial preservation plan. Murambi now holds over 50,000 victims, making it one of the nation’s largest and most symbolic genocide remembrance sites.
Government officials, survivors, and community members gathered for the ceremony, which doubled as a commemorative event. Jean Damascene Bizimana, Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, delivered a firm message to Rwanda’s youth, urging them to reject ethnic divisions and the ideologies that led to the 1994 killings.
“The future of our country depends on young people who choose unity, not hatred,” he said.
Member of Parliament Solina Nyirahabimana echoed that call, warning of persistent threats posed by genocide denial and distortion. She underscored the importance of remembrance as a pillar of national healing and vigilance.
The reburial is part of a wider initiative launched under a 2019 presidential directive, which sets out criteria for merging smaller or vulnerable memorials. Sites considered at risk due to natural hazards, inaccessibility, or the number of remains are being relocated to larger, more secure centers.
Local officials in Southern Province confirmed that 69 memorial sites are expected to be reduced to 53 through this strategy.
The genocide, carried out by Hutu extremists, claimed an estimated one million lives—mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus—over the course of 100 days in 1994. Thirty years on, Rwanda continues to uphold the memory of its victims while reinforcing its commitment to national unity and historical truth.