California State University, Sacramento on May 16 unveiled the Flame of Hope memorial honoring victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, marking the first permanent memorial of its kind on a university campus in the United States.

The unveiling ceremony brought together students, faculty, survivors, local leaders, members of the Rwandan community, and a delegation from Rwanda led by Minister of Education Dr. Joseph Nsengimana. Also attending were Minister of Youth and Arts Dr. Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima, Rwanda Governance Board CEO Dr. Doris Uwicyeza Picard, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana, Ambassador of Rwanda to the United States, and Sacramento State President Dr. J. Luke Wood.

Located at the heart of the Sacramento State campus, the memorial stands as a permanent place of remembrance, reflection, and education for future generations.

In his remarks, President Wood described the memorial as both educational and moral, emphasizing its role in reminding students and the broader university community that genocide has no place in the world.

Ambassador Mukantabana described the monument as “more than stone,” adding that it stands as “a declaration” to remember, acknowledge, and never look away.

The unveiling reflected the longstanding partnership between Rwanda and Sacramento State, a relationship shaped over many years through academic collaboration, genocide studies, and remembrance initiatives. The university has hosted multiple conferences and discussions dedicated to the Genocide against the Tutsi and genocide prevention.

The event also honored the legacy of the late Professor Alexandre Kimenyi, a former Sacramento State professor and prominent scholar who played an important role in advancing awareness and education about the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The Flame of Hope memorial now joins a growing number of international sites dedicated to preserving the memory of the victims while promoting education, human dignity, and the global commitment to “Never Again.”