International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda Date in the current year: April 7, 2024

Genocide in Rwanda took place during the Rwandan Civil War, a conflict between the Hutu-led government and the Rwandan Patriotic Front created by the Tutsi refugee diaspora. It was sparked by the assassination of Cyprien Ntaryamira and Juvénal Habyarimana, Hutu presidents of Burundi and Rwanda, accordingly.

The plane carrying the two presidents was shot down and crashed in Rwanda on April 6, 1994. The following day, Rwandan police, militia, and soldiers began to kill Tutsi and moderate Hutu leaders. Hutu civilians were recruited and pressured to murder their Tutsi neighbors.

The genocide lasted for approximately three months. During this period, an estimated 500,000-1,000,000 of the country's citizens were killed. About 70% of the Tutsi population of Rwanda were murdered during the genocide.

On or around April 7, the United Nations organizes memorial ceremonies and other commemorative events in many member states to honor the memory of the victims. In Rwanda, April 7 is the official day of mourning known as Genocide Memorial Day.