20 years later, Rwandan genocide flame, on tour of country, stirs memories of death

NYARUBUYE, Rwanda – A flame of remembrance is traveling around Rwanda and will soon make its way to the capital, Kigali, as the country prepares to mark 20 years since its devastating genocide.

Rwanda's Genocide Memorial Center says about 1,000,050 Rwandans died during the three-month killing spree. Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo, speaking at a memorial event in London this week, called the genocide "the most brutally efficient killing spree in human history."

At a ceremony on Thursday in the town of Kirehe, thousands of residents gathered in a field to hear genocide memories.

Nsengiyomva Apollinaise, a local government official, said the memorials help Rwandans remember what happened, examine the causes and find a path on which to move forward.

The flame reaches Kigali, the capital, on April 7.