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Grief-stricken Rwandans told ‘never again’ after 1994 genocide

– Screams and cries –

At the stadium, survivors of the genocide recounted their memories of the killings and of survival. Several people were overcome with grief, screaming and crying uncontrollably with medical staff helping to carry them out and to provide counselling.

“It is the day when the faces of all those I loved and died come back,” said Marie Muresyankwano, a mother in her thirties, adding she would watch events on television, but would otherwise spend time “with my own thoughts”.

“It is so hard for the people, because it opens mental wounds, hearing the testimonies of those who survived, they are reminded of what happened to them,” a Rwandan health ministry official said.

French officials, however, were absent, with French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira having pulled out over the weekend after Kagame repeated his accusation that French soldiers – who helped train the Hutu nationalist-controlled Rwandan army prior to 1994, as well as being accused of aiding the killers to escape – were complicit “actors” in the bloodbath.

France’s ambassador to Kigali, Michel Flesch, told AFP that he had been asked to stay away from the ceremonies.

French authorities have repeatedly denied any direct involvement in the genocide, and, unlike former colonial power Belgium, has refused to apologise. In a statement, the French presidency said it “joins with the Rwandan people to honour the memories of all victims of the genocide”.

Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo accused Paris of a “cover-up”.

“Serious mistakes were made and it would not serve the bilateral relationship if many of the leaders in France today continue to deny, continue to cover up,” she told reporters.

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“I remain hopeful that some of the leaders in France, some of the people in the military establishment particularly, who are often behind this denial, will realise that for our people, our countries, we are much better off moving forward.”

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