Rwandan community in Antwerp honors victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi

The event followed commemorative activities held in other Belgian cities, including Brussels, Liège, Bruges, Namur, and Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve.

As customary, the day began with a remembrance walk from Marnixplaats in Antwerp to the city’s Palace of Justice. At the venue, speeches were delivered by young people involved in organizing the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

The second part of the day took place in the Berchem district of Antwerp and featured the lighting of the Flame of Hope, speeches, testimonies, and commemorative songs performed by Lionel Sentore.

In his speech, Steve Rugamba, head of DRB-Rugali in Antwerp, thanked participants who had traveled from different parts of Belgium to join the commemoration and highlighted the significance of remembering.

“Remembering is not only about looking back at the past. Remembering is also about protecting our dignity. It is about reminding the world that no one should tell us who we are. No one should define our worth or rewrite our history in ways that diminish us,” he said.

Claire Kayirangwa, Secretary of Ibuka-Mémoire et Justice-Belgique, speaking on behalf of the organization, reflected on the deep meaning of remembrance. She encouraged young people to continue carrying this history forward while rejecting hatred, which only leads to evil, and continuing to stand for truth.

She also paid tribute to the soldiers of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (Inkotanyi) who stopped the Genocide against the Tutsi, stressing that without them, it would not be possible today to speak openly about this history. She further praised the role of President Paul Kagame in Rwanda’s development and in promoting national unity free from discrimination.

The third part of the day was marked by a night vigil led by Miheto Tatien, featuring testimonies, the screening of photographs of some victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, and remembrance songs performed in an atmosphere of reflection and mourning.

Commemoration activities for the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Belgium began on April 7, 2026, and will continue in the cities of Mons, Charleroi, Tournai, and Leuven.

Remembrance walk