Rwandan Police peacekeepers deployed in Bangassou under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Central Africa Republic (MINUSCA) were on Monday, April 10, joined by other peacekeepers, MINUSCA and government officials to mark the 29th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The commemoration was marked with lighting of candles of hope and observed a one minute of silence to pay respect to more than one million innocent lives massacred during the 100 days.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Athanase Ruganintwari, the contingent commander for Rwanda Formed Police Unit Three (RWAFPU-3), which is operating in Bangassou talked about how the Genocide was planned, prepared and executed.
“Widespread genocide Ideology, deep-rooted hatred, discrimination, hate speech, divisionism all orchestrated by the ruling regime, led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” SSP Ruganintwari said.
He further gave an insight into how the genocide was stopped by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) and saved many other lives; how the country was liberated, the reconciliation and transformation process.
Rosevel Pierre Louis, the MINUSCA Head of Bangassou Field Office, said that the UN stands with Rwanda and paid tribute to the one million children, men and women, who perished 29 years ago.
“As MINUSCA, we pay tribute to the resilience of survivors, we recognize the journey of the Rwandan people towards healing and reconciliation, and the failure of the international community.
I call upon all UN staff, the local community and authorities to stand up and say ‘Never Again’,” Rosevel said.
The Governor of Mbomou prefecture, Pierrette Benguere thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers for the invitation to stand with Rwanda to commemorate.
“The unmeasurable atrocities created incurable wounds. Today, we stand with you to honour your loved ones; parents, children, brothers, sisters, friends and families that perished during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” Benguere said.
She added: “I salute the government of Rwanda for how it quickly rebuilt the broken Rwandan society. It is our responsibility as Africans and the entire world to fight against Genocide and say Never Again.”
The RWAFPU-3 of 180 officers is an additional contingent deployed in Bangassou city in November last year, about 720km out of the capital Bangui. (End)