Ambassador Harelimana Abdulkarim
Nyamirambo (Kigali): The Islamic Cultural Center (ICC) and the Islamic Scientific Secondary School (ESSI) of Nyamirambo yesterday commemorated the memory of their 47 students and teachers, as well as staff members, all Tutsi, who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Victims were killed in various locations across the country. This remembrance event is annual. For this week, the commemoration activities extended from May 22 to 26, 2023. Today, wreaths were laid at Gisozi memorial site where some of the victims are buried.
Yesterday, the commemoration focused on presentations by speakers on various themes such as: the values of Rwandan identity, the fight against genocide ideology, negationism and revisionism, exemplary behavior Muslims as a whole during the perpetration of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
After a laying of wreaths in memory of the victims, the various speakers presented messages of commemoration.
Ambassador Harelimana Abdulkarim reviewed the history of Rwanda from colonization to the present day.
He described the colonial and postcolonial periods during which Rwanda lost its identity and was subjected to exploitation. It was at this time that the colonizers sowed the seeds of division that destroyed unity among Rwandans.
According to Abdulkarim, then came the period of independence that was not fully given with ethnic violence and exiled many Rwandan to neighboring countries. The policy of ethnic and regional imbalance caused many victims. Tired of living without a homeland and without rights, Rwandans in exile created the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front). They joined forces with those inside the country to launch an attack in order to establish the rule of law, in a country viable for all.
But the regime in place, he continues, undermined by extremism, refuses to implement a Peace Agreement signed in Arusha on August 04, 1993, It triggered the 3rd Genocide of the 20th century against the Tutsi which left more than million victims in a hundred days. The RPF fighters stop it at the cost of immense sacrifices. The RPF then put in place a process of reconstruction of the country, restoration of the Unity of Rwandans and launching of National Reconciliation.
DG of ICC, Abdellatif Oulad Aouid
The country is making the necessary changes to get back on its feet in all sectors. Rwanda is now a model for other countries emerging from conflict. With the 29th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans are commemorating by rebuilding themselves.
The DG of ICC, Abdellatif Oulad Aouid, intervened to thanking Guests and the leadership of the country for having rebuilt Unity of Rwandans and banished sectarianism. Rwanda has become a space of solidarity for all its citizens. It stands out as an example at the international level. DG Abdellatif thanked the RPF for having liberated and reunited the country.
Member of Parliament Ndangiza Madina
The third intervention from the Guest of Honor, Member of Parliament Ndangiza Madina, who urged the Rwandan youth not to remain a prisoner of past Rwandan evil. Ndangiza recommended that young people rebuild themselves on the model brought by RPF policies. She advised young people to live away from alcohol and drugs, to refuse to be manipulated by the divisive ideas of those jealous of Unity of Rwandans.
MP Ndangiza remains grateful to the RPF which liberated the country, stopped genocide against the Tutsi and rebuilt Rwanda’s unity and strength. (End)