Rwanda commemorates the victims of the 1994 genocide each year in a 100-day period called Kwibuka. This commemoration, marked by official events and public discussions on ethnic identity, constitutes a crucial moment for the country. However, a contradiction appears in the policy of the Rwandan state, which advocates ethnic non-recognition while allowing a pause in this measure during Kwibuka.
Since 2003, Rwanda has implemented a policy of ethnic non-recognition, aiming to eliminate the Hutu and Tutsi categories in favor of a single national identity. This initiative aims to establish national homogeneity in a country ravaged by ethnic conflicts. However, this policy relaxes during the 100 days of commemoration of Kwibuka, highlighting a troubling duality: the legal erasure of ethnic groups due to their connection to the conflict, confronted with three months of saturated memories through public speeches , memorial programs, burials and memorial signs.
In 2014, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the genocide, it was officially renamed “the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi”, highlighting the Tutsi as the only targets of genocidal violence. Despite the historical recognition of moderate Hutus as victims, this transition to exclusive naming highlights a significant shift in how the event is narrated.
A study conducted five years ago revealed four anomalies that arise specifically during the Kwibuka commemoration period: an increased perception of violence towards survivors, an increase in accusations and convictions for genocidal ideology and negationism, massive participation of young people in identity rhetoric and an increase in prisoner confessions. These anomalies highlight how Kwibuka exacerbates social tensions and perpetuates divisions within Rwandan society.
The analysis of state rhetoric and commemoration events carried out as part of this study highlights the crucial role of the Rwandan Patriotic Party in the consolidation of peace and security. The commemorative programming highlights this message, emphasizing that only the ruling party and current leaders are preventing a return to genocidal violence.
However, the policy of ethnic non-recognition clashes with Rwanda’s laws against “genocide ideology” and “sectarianism”, sparking controversies over their impact on legitimate political opposition and freedom of expression. The fear of reprisals in the event of questioning on the commemoration of the genocide and ethnicity is indicative of the restrictions imposed by these laws.
Thus, Kwibuka, an essential celebration for national memory, reveals internal tensions and paradoxes in the construction of post-genocide Rwandan identity. The future of this commemoration and the construction of peace in Rwanda is closely linked to the way in which these ambiguities and contestations will be managed by society and political institutions.