New Delhi: The Qutub Minar was illuminated with the colors of the Rwandan national flag on Sunday as a gesture of solidarity with the people of Rwanda, commemorating the tragic events of the 1994 massacre that resulted in the loss of 800,000 lives.
Representing India at the 30th commemoration of the genocide in Kigali, Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi from the Ministry of External Affairs participated in the event.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, expressed India’s support for Rwanda by highlighting the lighting of the Qutub Minar and acknowledging Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi’s presence at the commemoration in Kigali.
In solidarity with the people of Rwanda, India lit up the Qutub Minar today, marking the UN International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Secy (ER) Dammu Ravi represented India at the 30th commemoration of the genocide today in Kigali. pic.twitter.com/Ys8tQvcyjB
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 7, 2024
Rwanda marked the 30th anniversary of the genocide, a catastrophic event orchestrated by armed Hutu extremists, which remains one of the darkest chapters of the 20th century.
During the commemoration in Kigali, President Paul Kagame led the tributes by laying wreaths on mass graves, attended by various foreign dignitaries, including former US President Bill Clinton, who had previously acknowledged the failure of his administration in preventing the genocide.
The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel group seized control of Kigali in July 1994, concluding a 100-day period of violence that began on April 7, 1994, resulting in the deaths of nearly 800,000 people, predominantly Tutsis, but also moderate Hutus.
Secretary Dammu Ravi’s visit to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya from April 7-12 includes meetings with Rwandan officials, discussing bilateral interests and future cooperation. Subsequently, he will engage with Ugandan ministers and officials, chairing a business session involving Indian and Ugandan industry leaders, and interact with the Indian community in Uganda.
Moreover, the press release announced Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi’s forthcoming visit to Kenya, leading a sizable delegation to explore agricultural opportunities, as decided during discussions between Prime Minister Modi and the President of Kenya in December 2023.
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