Interested in learning more about genocide and its lasting effects in Rwanda? The Campaign Against Genocide Museum in Rwanda holds a wealth of information on the causes and history of genocide.
Rwanda is home to a wide range of plants and animals, striking landscapes, welcoming people, and unique cultural traditions. Kigali, the capital city, is now one of the cleanest and most peaceful cities in Africa.
In the decades since the 1994 genocide between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, the country has worked to rebuild and move forward under its current government.
The Campaign Against Genocide Museum is one of the top places to visit in Rwanda, which has become a popular tourist destination in Africa.
Genocide is generally defined as the systematic killing of a large number of members of one nation or ethnic group, with the intent to eliminate them.
Genocide is considered a crime against humanity and a war crime under international law, formally recognized as illegal in 1948.
Brief Facts About Genocide
Genocide was not widely recognized as a legal concept until the 1940s, and prosecutions under the law remain relatively few.
Polish Jew Raphael Lemkin, an international law jurist, along with later scholars such as Douglas Irvin-Erickson, argued that existing laws were not enough to stop political violence of this kind.
Lemkin worked on drafting new laws as early as 1933, shortly before Adolf Hitler became Germany’s chancellor and began enacting anti-Jewish laws. Lemkin later contributed to the work of the League of Nations, an international organization created to promote peace.
Lemkin proposed making vandalism and barbarism illegal under international law, though the proposal was not adopted at the time, and he was eventually forced to flee Germany.
Genocide is defined as acts that result in the deaths of group members, prevent births within the group, cause serious mental or physical harm, or create conditions intended to destroy the group.
About the Campaign Against Genocide Museum
The Campaign Against Genocide Museum is one of eight museums in Rwanda. It was inaugurated in 2017 by Rwanda’s President, Paul Kagame, and is managed by the Institute of National Museums of Rwanda.
It is located within Rwanda’s parliamentary complex, formerly known as the Conseil National de Développement. The museum tells the story of Rwanda during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Over 600 Rwandan soldiers were stationed in the parliamentary building from December 1993 into 1994, in preparation for the formation of a transitional government and National Assembly.
This history is part of why the location was chosen for the museum. Exhibits describe how the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) carried out efforts against the genocide, particularly after United Nations forces had withdrawn before the genocide began.
The museum details the role of the RPA soldiers stationed there in rescuing victims. One exhibit displays a machine gun used by the RPA in defending the parliament building.
The museum also highlights a traditional road point located about 800 meters behind the parliamentary avenue.
Best Time to Visit the Campaign Against Genocide Museum
The museum is open all year, with guides available to explain the genocide and its history. Visitors should check the museum’s calendar for significant dates and public holidays when planning a visit.
The museum is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., but it is closed on April 7. On Umuganda Days, the last Saturday of each month, it opens from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
The Campaign Against Genocide Museum in Rwanda stands as an important educational destination, offering visitors exhibits and context that make it a meaningful stop on any Rwanda itinerary.
