Rwandans will on Sunday commemorate the 30th anniversary of the genocide that tore their country apart.
Initiated by Hutu extremists, the genocide saw neighbors turning against each other, resulting in one of the bloodiest massacres of the 20th century.
Lasting for 100 days until the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel militia seized control of Kigali in July 1994, the violence claimed the lives of approximately 800,000 people, mostly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus.
Under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, who led the RPF, Rwanda has appeared to have made progress.
However, the scars of the violence remain, leaving a trail of destruction across Africa's Great Lakes region.
To honor the victims, April 7, the day the genocide began in 1994, will be marked by President Kagame lighting a remembrance flame at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
More than 250,000 victims are believed to be buried in that place.
The theme of 2024's genocide commemoration is "Remember-Unite-Renew".
Kagame will lay wreaths on the mass graves, joined by foreign dignitaries, including former US President Bill Clinton.
Sunday's events will signal the start of a week of national mourning, with Rwanda effectively coming to a standstill and national flags flown at half-mast.
Music will not be allowed in public places or on the radio, and sports events and movies are banned from TV broadcasts unless related to the "Kwibuka (Remembrance) 30" initiative.
The United Nations and the African Union will also hold remembrance ceremonies.
Despite the passage of time, new mass graves continue to be discovered annually.
In 2002, Rwanda established community tribunals where victims heard confessions from their persecutors, although rights watchdogs expressed concerns about miscarriages of justice.
Currently, Rwandan ID cards do not mention ethnicity, and secondary school students learn about the genocide as part of a tightly controlled curriculum.
The country hosts over 200 genocide memorials, four of which were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list last year.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is leading the Kenyan delegation to the commemoration.
Gachagua, who is representing President William Ruto, will join heads of state and governments, envoys and heads of delegations, and the people of Rwanda at the commemoration dubbed "Kwibuka 30" on Sunday, April 7.
