*Administration of Barack Obama, 2012 *

**Statement on the 18th Anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda **

*April 6, 2012 *

Eighteen years after the Rwandan genocide, we pause to reflect with horror and sadness on the 100 days in 1994 when 800,000 people lost their lives. The specter of this slaughter of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters haunts us still and reminds the nations of the world of our shared responsibility to do all we can to protect civilians and to ensure that evil of this magnitude never happens again. The United States grieves with the Rwandan people, and we remember those whose lives were cut short. And as we do, we also recognize Rwanda's progress in moving beyond this horrible tragedy, the strides it has taken to improve the lives of its people, and its contributions to protecting civilians from other nations in U.N. peacekeeping missions around the world. The U.S. Government and the American people will continue to extend our friendship, partnership, and support to the Rwandan people as they seek to build a peaceful and prosperous future.

*Categories:* Statements by the President : Rwanda, 1994 genocide, 18th anniversary*.*

*Subjects:* Rwanda : 1994 genocide, 18th anniversary; Rwanda : Relations with U.S.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201200253.