RwandavoicesconcernoverperceivedU.S.ambiguityaboutvictimsof1994genocide_GuangmingOnlineRwandanPresidentPaulKagamespeaksatanewsconferenceinKigali,Rwanda,onApril8,2024.RwandanPresidentPaulKagameonMondayexpresseddeepconcernoverthefailureoftheUnitedStatestorefertothe1994massacreasagenocideagainsttheTutsipeople.(PhotobyCyrilNdegeya/Xinhua)KIGALI,April8(Xinhua)--RwandanPresidentPaulKagameonMondayexpresseddeepconcernoverthefailureoftheUnitedStatestorefertothe1994massacreasagenocideagainsttheTutsipeople.Kagame'scriticismcameafterU.S.SecretaryofStateAnthonyBlinken'smessageaboutthecommemorationofthegenocide.InhismessagepostedonXsocialplatform,Blinkensaid,"WemournthemanythousandsofTutsis,Hutus,Twasandotherswhoseliveswerelostduring100daysofunspeakableviolence."ManyRwandanscriticizedBlinkenfornotspecificallyacknowledgingthatthegenocidetargetedtheTutsis.SpeakingatanewsconferenceinKigali,thecapitalofRwanda,Monday,KagamestressedthattheissuewasdiscussedwithformerU.S.PresidentBillClinton,wholedadelegationtothe30thanniversaryofthegenocideheldSundayinKigali.ThecontroversyoverhowtocharacterizethegenocidestemsfromallegationsthattheRwandanPatrioticArmy,therebelgroupthatstoppedthegenocide,carriedoutrevengekillingsduringandafterthegenocide.Kagamehaspreviouslydismissedtheseallegations.KagamesaidhebelievedhehadreachedanunderstandingwithU.S.authoritiesaround2014forthemtoavoidanycriticismonthegenocideanniversary."Thereare365daysinayear.Giveusthatday,April7,andthenyoucanhavetherest,364days,toblameuseverydayforeverythingyoudonotlikeaboutus,"Kagamesaid.DuringhiscommemorationspeechSunday,KagamesaidRwandanswillneverunderstandwhycountriesareremainingintentionallyvagueaboutwhowastargetedinthegenocide,callingitaformofdenialandacrimeinitself."Rwandawillalwayschallengeit,"headded.RwandaonSundaybeganaweekofnationalmourningand100daysofcommemorationtomarkthe30thanniversaryofthe1994genocideagainsttheTutsi,duringwhichmorethan1millionpeoplewerekilled,accordingtotheRwandangovernment.■RwandanPresidentPaulKagamespeaksatanewsconferenceinKigali,Rwanda,onApril8,2024.RwandanPresidentPaulKagameonMondayexpresseddeepconcernoverthefailureoftheUnitedStatestorefertothe1994massacreasagenocideagainsttheTutsipeople.(PhotobyCyrilNdegeya/Xinhua)RwandanPresidentPaulKagamespeaksatanewsconferenceinKigali,Rwanda,onApril8,2024.RwandanPresidentPaulKagameonMondayexpresseddeepconcernoverthefailureoftheUnitedStatestorefertothe1994massacreasagenocideagainsttheTutsipeople.(PhotobyCyrilNdegeya/Xinhua)Editor:DisclaimerTheviewsandopinionsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseoftheauthor's,GMW.cnmakesnorepresentationsastoaccuracy,suitability,orvalidityofanyinformationonthissiteandwillnotbeliableforanyerrors,omissions,ordelaysinthisinformation.