July 4th

July 4th is not just American Independence Day. In Rwanda, it marks the day the RPF recaptured Kigali and signifies the end of the 100 days of the genocide (although in the French-managed west of the country, killings continued until the RPF gained full control of Rwanda). It is alternatively referred to as Hero’s Day or Liberation Day. Rwanda’s Independence Day (from the Belgians) passed with much less notice on July 1st.

Sorry the picture isn’t that interesting – I’m always wary of fussing with my camera in urban areas, and this was taken in Kigali.