The Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda Marks Kwibuka32 in the Netherlands with Walk to Remember and Commemoration in Amsterdam
On 7 April 2026, Rwanda marked the 32nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Kwibuka, meaning “to remember,” is a period of solemn reflection during which victims are honoured, unity is reaffirmed, and a shared commitment to building a better future for all Rwandans is renewed.
The commemoration in the Netherlands began on the morning of 7 April with the Walk to Remember, led by H.E. Ambassador Lambert Dushimimana. Participants gathered at the RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre in Amsterdam and walked together to the Genocide Memorial site in Beatrixpark. The memorial serves as a place of remembrance for survivors and the wider Rwandan community in the Netherlands, and stands as a tribute to more than one million victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The event brought together over 150 participants, including the Guest of Honour, members of the diplomatic community, Rwandan nationals residing in the Netherlands, friends of Rwanda, and invited guests.
The official commemoration ceremony opened with remarks by Mr Jeff Rutazihana, representative of IBUKA Netherlands, the association of survivors in the country. This was followed by a powerful spoken word performance by Ms Lisette Ntakabumwe, delivered in English, Kinyarwanda, and Dutch.
In his address, Ambassador Dushimimana paid tribute to the victims and honoured the resilience of survivors. He reflected on Rwanda’s journey of rebuilding through unity, justice, and reconciliation, while expressing appreciation for the Netherlands’ longstanding support in judicial cooperation. He also warned against the persistent threat of genocide ideology, hate speech, and historical distortion—both within and beyond the region—and called for strengthened international action to combat impunity. He concluded by urging continued remembrance, solidarity with survivors, and a meaningful commitment to the principle of “Never Again.”
The ceremony also featured a keynote address by the Guest of Honour, Mr Hans Docter, Deputy Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
During the wreath-laying ceremony, Ambassador Dushimimana was joined by representatives of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IBUKA Netherlands, the Rwandan community in the Netherlands, the Amsterdam South District, members of the Diplomatic Corps, and the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
The programme concluded with closing remarks by the Master of Ceremonies, Mr J.H. Mukama, who expressed appreciation to the Guest of Honour, IBUKA Netherlands, and the Rwandan diaspora association in the Netherlands for their contributions to the organisation of this annual commemoration, held in cooperation with the Embassy.
For more information about Kwibuka, please visit: www.kwibuka.rw
