Arsenal joins Rwanda in marking 31st commemoration of the 1994 genocide

English Premier League club Arsenal has joined Rwanda in observing the 31st commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, during which over one million lives were lost.

In a message shared on their official social media platforms on Monday, the London-based football club expressed their solidarity with the people of Rwanda, stating: “Kwibuka means ‘to remember’. Today we mark the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.”

Arsenal is among several top European football clubs, including France’s Paris Saint-Germain and Germany’s Bayern Munich, that have an ongoing partnership with Rwanda through the ‘Visit Rwanda’ campaign.

🕯️ ‘Kwibuka’ means ‘to remember’.

Today we mark the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. pic.twitter.com/WVbPHdMK4u

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) April 7, 2025

Over the years, several Arsenal players, technical staff and officials have travelled to Rwanda, where they have visited genocide memorial centres and learned about the country’s painful past.

In 2023, Dutch defender Jurrien Timber visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial during a trip to Rwanda. Following the emotional experience, Timber encouraged Rwandan youth to keep the memory of their loved ones alive while striving to build a better future.

“I urge young Rwandan players to not only remember their loved ones but also work hard and achieve their dreams and shape the future of the nation,” he said.

The commemoration, known as Kwibuka, is an annual period of remembrance in Rwanda that honours victims of the 1994 genocide and reflects on the journey towards healing, unity, and reconstruction.

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