The president of the European Commission almost hit Jeannette Kagame with a flame-lit torch during the ceremony to commemorate the lives of 800,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutus murdered during the Rwandan genocide.
The viral clip shows Mr Juncker lighting up his torch, next to the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, his wife and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, only to almost set the first lady on fire moments later as he turned around.
Juncker's failure to handle the lit stick safely has caused a flood of comments on social media.
Hahahahahahahahaha 😂😂😂😂😂 Too much. I need my bed.
— Outnabout (@yerrrboy) April 11, 2019
Jean-Claude Drunker
— Nila Nilfisk 🐊 (@nilanilfisk) April 11, 2019
— StepAwayFromTheKeys 🇪🇺 #RevokeArticle50 (@AwayFromTheKeys) April 12, 2019
The symptoms of sciatica don't include lumbering around like a drunk.
— Michael Musson (@JagvarMusson) April 11, 2019
I’m surprised his breath didn’t catch fire 🐉 🔥😂
— Fozzer (@fozzer2006) April 11, 2019
— the Gorilla who ate Europe (@GorillaGreat) April 12, 2019
Fire — The Crazy World of Jean-Claude Juncker:
— Strikes It Lucky (@StrikesItLucky) April 11, 2019
🎶I am the god of hellfire! And I bring you
Fire, I'll take you to burn
Fire, I'll take you to learn
I'll see you burn
You fought hard and you saved and earned
But all of it's going to burn🎶#Brexit pic.twitter.com/GymSyFwvlw
Following the ceremony, Juncker took to Twitter to say he was "moved beyond words at this memorial to tragedy".
I am moved beyond words at this memorial to tragedy. It serves as a bleak warning of the worst humanity is capable of. But through the darkest of days, I remain in awe at the power of regeneration, of this country, and of humankind. #Kwibuka25 pic.twitter.com/0yoll7IoPK
— Jean-Claude Juncker (@JunckerEU) April 7, 2019
Jeannette Kagame avoided being harmed as she quickly stepped back when Mr Juncker turned around with a blazing torch in his hand.
The fire set to burn at the ceremony is meant to last for 100 days in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of a genocide that saw extremist ethnic Hutus slaughter more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over three months.
READ MORE: Why Are Some Ringleaders Still Free 25 Years After Rwanda Genocide?
