On Wednesday 16 September, His Excellency Romuald Wadagni, President of the Republic of Benin, visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial to pay respects to the more than one million victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Accompanied by Rwanda’s Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr Bizimana Jean-Damascène, President Wadagni and his delegation toured the Memorial’s exhibits to learn more about the history of the Genocide, its causes, reality, and devastating consequences, as well as Rwanda’s remarkable journey of recovery, reconciliation, and rebuilding over the past 32 years.

At the conclusion of his visit, President Wadagni inscribed a message in the Memorial’s guestbook expressing profound solidarity with Rwanda and its people, and a firm resolve that the world must never again allow such attrocity to occur. He wrote:

“In memory of all the innocent victims of the Genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in 1994. In the face of the enormity of this tragedy, we have a duty not to forget. Tribute to the Rwandan people who, through their resilience, drew upon their own genius to chart a path towards PEACE, RECONCILIATION, CONCORD and RECONSTRUCTION. May we always stand watch together, so that fatality never triumphs over humanity.”