Rwanda’s Parliament on Monday unveiled a Genocide memorial honoring four former employees of the institution then known as the CND (Conseil National de Développement), who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The ceremony, held at the Parliament complex on June 29, 2026, marked the 32nd commemoration period and was led by Senate President Dr. François Xavier Kalinda and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Kazarwa Gertrude. Lawmakers, families of victims, representatives of the IBUKA association, and other guests attended.
The memorial honors Gashayija Pierre Célestin, Kayiranga Célestin, Mugenzi Jean Louis, and Mukantembe Aloysie, all former parliamentary staff members before the Genocide.
Designed as a permanent site of remembrance, the memorial consists of four main elements: a message wall, four stone pillars representing the victims, a reflective garden, and a “Flame of Hope.” Officials said each element carries symbolic meaning tied to memory, resilience, and unity.
Sen. Jean Pierre Dusingizemungu said the memorial is intended to promote reflection and responsibility among visitors.
“This memorial stands as a permanent reminder of our history and our duty to ensure that such atrocities never happen again,” he said. “It also calls on every visitor to reject genocide ideology, denial, and divisionism, and to uphold unity.”
The stone pillars represent permanence and the weight of history, while the garden—planted with resilient cactus species—symbolizes endurance in difficult times. The flame represents hope and a commitment to national unity and rebuilding.
Officials said the memorial reinforces Rwanda’s commitment to preserving the memory of victims and preventing genocide in all its forms.
