He made the remarks on June 2, 2026, during the inauguration of Les Archives, a memorial dedicated to the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, where he was accompanied by First Lady Jeannette Kagame and other dignitaries.
In his address, Kagame reflected on his personal experience of displacement and Rwanda’s history of repeated tragedy, noting what he described as a “cycle of thirty years” between earlier violence in the 1960s and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
He said, “The events of the Genocide against the Tutsi are within living memory. And so the work of memory necessarily begins with the word of survivors.”
Kagame stressed that survivors themselves carry the burden of history, describing them as “living memorials, not only by virtue of the visible scars of the body, but also the indelible wounds of the spirit.”
Speaking about the significance of the newly unveiled memorial, he said it plays a critical role in preserving truth for future generations: “The memorial before us is powerful because it sets the truth in stone and protects it from the heartlessness of time, by instructing the living.”
Kagame added that the memorial is not about validation, but respect, saying it stands as “a mark of respect for the dignity of Rwandans and our history.”
Turning to relations with France, Kagame commended President Emmanuel Macron for his approach to historical responsibility, stating: “President Macron, I want to commend you on both counts: courage and humanity.”
He referenced France’s acknowledgment of its past during Macron’s 2021 visit to Rwanda, noting the recognition that France “could have stopped the genocide but did not,” and describing such acknowledgment as more meaningful than an apology.
Kagame also praised earlier steps taken by France, including historic remarks by former President Nicolas Sarkozy, and efforts by journalists and researchers who helped document the truth of the genocide.
He said Rwanda’s engagement with its past and international dialogue has contributed to what he called an “irreversible journey towards truth.”
Kagame further emphasized Rwanda’s internal responsibility and resilience, saying the country has chosen to confront its history directly and invest in educating younger generations to prevent repetition of past atrocities.
He concluded by stressing that overcoming history requires political will, adding that the unveiling of the memorial in Paris represents a deeper commitment to peace, understanding, and remembrance.
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