{{Rwanda peacekeepers serving in Mali and Abyei, on April 7, paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi as the country held the 20th edition of the massacre which claimed more than one million lives.}}
The Rwandan peacekeepers were joined by other peacekeeping forces and UN staff, local leaders and residents in the commemoration.
In Abyei, a disputed region between Sudan and South Sudan, a UN flag was held at half-mast in respect of innocent lives that perished during the Genocide as the world watched.
Chief Supt. Oswald Nkaka, attributed the genocide to bad politics introduced in Rwanda by colonialists who, through their divide and rule policy, created “fictitious classes among Rwandan” thus sowing the seeds of hatred which led to the 1994 genocide.
CSP Nkaka added that despite the despicable atrocities, the “Rwandan spirit has never died and today this spirit leads us into a bright future.”
He explained that Rwanda and her leaders are today hosting and participating in all important peace building forums sends its Police and military forces to maintain and bring peace in other countries.
Lt. Gen. Yohannes Tesfamariam, the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFSA) force command and head of mission, challenged the global community, which had the ability but unwilling to stop the extermination of Tutsis, to work together to prevent a repeat of such atrocities in the future.
“Let us take the lessons from this terrible experience to nurture a culture of trust and understanding for us to live together as brothers and sisters,” Gen Tesfamariam said.
“If this option to live together in peace in this planet is undermined, the other option in front of all of us is to perish together as fools,” he added.
In Mali, the Governor of Gao region, Oumar Baba Sidibe, who was the guest of honor at the commemoration event, thanked Rwandans for their resilience and resolve to lift their country out of ashes and to maintain and bring peace in other countries.
Chief Supt. Bertin Mutezintare, the contingent commander of Rwanda Formed Police Unit in Mali said the country embarked on unite and reconciliation to build a new nation, which has paved way for rapid economic growth.
The Mayor of Gao city Sadou Harouna Djallo and over 1500 residents of Gao also attended the commemoration ceremony.
Leave a Reply