Top MEA officials attend 30th-anniversary commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide (Kwibuka 30) in Kigali
To mark the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda, which claimed nearly a million lives, New Delhi's Qutub Minar was illuminated in the Rwandan national colours on April 7, 2024 as a gesture of solidarity.
 
Senior officials from India also participated in the 30th-anniversary commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda Genocide (Kwibuka 30) against the Tutsi which was held in Kigali, Rwanda.
 
The lighting ceremony at Qutub Minar, which lasted from 8:00 PM to 8:45 PM IST, was attended by representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Rwandan High Commissioner, Jacqueline Mukangira, alongside her colleagues and members of the media.
 
High Commissioner Mukangira expressed her gratitude on social media, thanking the Government and people of India for the symbolic gesture of illuminating the Qutub Minar in Rwandan colours, which she described as "a symbol of global unity and solidarity."
 
All commemorative events in Rwanda were led by President Paul Kagame. India's representation at the Kigali commemoration was marked by the presence of Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dammu Ravi, and Additional Secretary MEA, Puneet Roy Kundal.
 
“Represented GoI at the 30th commemoration in Kigali of the 1994 Rwandan Genocide in which nearly a million people were killed in 100 days. UN has declared 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda. Qutub Minar was lit up in Delhi. #kigali,” Kundal posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

India’s historical connection with Rwanda, dating back to the early 1990s, includes its early warnings about the potential for genocide in the country. During the genocide, Indian soldiers participating in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) made the ultimate sacrifice. India also provided humanitarian aid to Rwandese refugees and played a critical role in evacuating its nationals during the crisis, showcasing its commitment to humanitarian support and international solidarity.
 
India Continues its Focus on Africa
 
Secretary Ravi is on a six-day, three-nation visit to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya from April 7-12, 2024, in yet another demonstration of the importance India attaches to its relationship with African nations.
 
From Rwanda, he moves on to Uganda, where he will chair a business session with Indian and Ugandan industry leaders, fostering economic cooperation and exploring new business avenues. He is also expected to discuss the cultural and people-to-people ties that underpin the bilateral relationship between India and Uganda.
 
The final leg of Ravi’s tour will take him to Kenya, accompanied by a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and representatives of Indian agricultural companies and business chambers.
 
In Kenya, Ravi will chair sessions with Indian and Kenyan agricultural companies and meet with key government officials, discussing ways to enhance bilateral cooperations solely focusing on uplifting the agrarian economy.
 
Secretary Ravi's visit to Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya represents a strategic effort by India to reinforce its relations with these key African nations. India is keen on building robust partnerships and exploring new horizons of cooperation in Africa, signalling a new chapter in its foreign policy and economic relations.