Rwandan contingents in UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and Central African Republic along with Rwandan community and friends of Rwanda commemorated the 31st Anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The commemoration was marked by a walk to remember, a moment of silence and lighting of flame in remembrance of over one million lives lost during the genocide.
In the Republic of South Sudan, the commemoration was held at the UNMISS RWANBATT-3 Base Camp Durupi in Central Equatorial State in the outskirts of Juba City. Participants included South Sudan government officials, the UNMISS Military Component, UN agencies officials, Rwandan community and peacekeepers.
The Chairman of the Rwandan Community in South Sudan and guest of honour, Mr William Ngabonziza, said in his remarks that Rwanda has undergone a remarkable transformation since 1994 transitioning from horrors of the Genocide to become a beacon of hope and resilience. He added that the country achieved significant strides in reconciliation, reconstruction, and socio-economic development through visionary leadership and collective efforts. He stressed that Rwanda’s journey of unity and peace serves as a testament to the resilience of its people and the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.
He also regretted that the International Community failed to intervene while Rwandans were in dire need of protection and called on the world to never let such atrocities happen again.
A separate commemoration was also organised by Rwandan community and peacekeepers in Malakal, Torit, Yambio, Kuajok, Bentiu, Bor, and Rumbek in South Sudan.
In Central African Republic, the Rwandan peacekeepers (Rwanda Battle Group VII and Level 2 Hospital in Bria, and RWANBATT-2 in Bossembele) serving under the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), along with UN staff, local authorities, and the local community, marked the 31st commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the events held in Bria and Bossembele base camps.
Sous- Préfe Madam NAKOMANA Beatrice and the mayor of Bossembele as well as Local security commanders, were present
Colonel Jean de la Croix BAZIRUWIHA, Deputy Commander of Sector East highlighted the hard-earned lessons from Rwanda’s path of recovery, reconciliation, and resilience. He reminded attendees that the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994 was not an accident of history but a prepared campaign made possible by divisive ideology and poor leadership.
Lieutenant Colonel Ndanyuzwe MUZINDUTSI, the Contingent Commander of RWANBATT-2 in Bossembele, highlighted the systematic planning and execution of Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda by the bad leadership; he reminded the contingent of their duty to uphold peace in their area of responsibilities.
The commemoration not only honours the lives lost in the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, but also stresses Rwanda’s unwavering commitment to genocide prevention and promotion unity and peace both at home and across the globe through its peacekeeping missions. (End)