Younger people may not remember the African country of Rwanda, but the civil war and genocide there in 1994 remains one of the most harrowing events in recent history. More than 500,000 people were killed over 100 days.

That’s why Carl Wilkens, the only American to stay in Rwanda during the Rwandan Genocide, tours the U.S. to tell people of his experiences there.

Wilkens will be at the Austin Public Library Thursday to share his stories with local residents.

“It’s a unique opportunity for people in the area to hear a firsthand account of something that’s really foreign for most of us,” said Kirsten Lindbloom, head of Austin’s Human Rights Commission.

Lindbloom said an HRC member who went to a previous Wilkens presentation told the group about him and secured an appearance. Wilkins will speak at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul on Wednesday following a screening of “Ghosts of Rwanda,” an award-winning Frontline documentary on the Rwandan Genocide.

Wilkens will speak from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the library’s large conference room. His new book, “I’m Not Leaving,” will be available at the library as well.