Category: Diaspora

{March 26, 2014
Remarks by Hon. Louise Mushikiwabo
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation
Kwibuka20 Global Conversation, London:
‘The UK Remembers’

26 March 2014
Committee Room 10, House of Commons,
Westminster, London
5.30pm – 7.00pm}

Dear friends good evening,

{{In just under two weeks’ time, on April 7th, Rwanda will mark twenty years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. During this somber yet solemn time, we invite all people of goodwill, the world over, to join us in remembrance.}}

– We remember, to honor the memory of those who perished.
– We remember, to offer comfort to those who survived.
– And we remember, to recommit ourselves to a peaceful and prosperous Rwanda, and a world free from genocide.

We, as Rwandans, are deeply touched that members of the United Kingdom Parliament, led by our dear friends, Lord McConnell, Andrew Mitchell and Stephen Twiggs, stand in solidarity, with us as manifested in their convening of today’s important Global Conversation on the 1994 genocide in my country. We are equally honored by the presence of all of you, distinguished guests and friends.

{{Lord McConnell and Colleagues,}}

Your leadership in organising this Global Conversation reflects the fact that, you are not inactive. Rwanda and the United Kingdom have forged a deep bond of friendship based on mutual respect and shared values. Your government has been — and continues to be — a vital partner in our country’s transformation.

As it happens, Rwanda currently sits alongside the United Kingdom on the United Nations Security Council and, typically, more often than not, we find ourselves in agreement on the important security matters that come before us. Rwanda is also the youngest but active member of the Commonwealth and there also we find common ground.

{{Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen,}}

In the life of a country, twenty years is nothing. Certainly for survivors, the events of 1994 often feel like yesterday. And yet, in today’s hectic, media-saturated environment, there is a danger that we might not take the full measure of the Genocide against the Tutsi, and that with time the picture in the world’s collective memory could become blurry.

Together, we must not let it happen.

There are also those who might find it easier to forget.

There are some who want us to turn away – or accept some altered version of history, it tends to happen a lot with genocide, that attempts to establish false moral equivalency by indicting victims and finding excuses for perpetrators and this is not unique to Rwanda.

These calls, once on the fringe, especially today with social media, amplify their voice and distort public debate. So as we remember for the 20th time, let us re-center the debate.

Together, we must work tirelessly against these forces.

We owe it to victims and survivors to reckon truthfully with the past, and we owe it to ourselves as well. We should not lose the perspective that the Genocide against the Tutsi was a crime against all humanity — and, while it may have taken place within Rwandan borders, its implications and meaning present a vexing challenge to all persons of good conscience, raising questions like:

– How could this have happened?
– Why did the international community fail to act?
– How can we stop such atrocities from happening again?

All these questions have been the subject of books, films, classroom debates, and workshops for years now but this conversation must go on.

Today’s gathering, one of many Kwibuka Global Conversations taking place in the lead up to and during the commemoration period, is about addressing such essential questions in the perspective of 20 years. There is nothing simple about genocide, but the historical clarity on what truly happened and how we rectify it for the future is crucial.

On April 7th 1994, decades of official discrimination, vilification and violence against Rwanda’s Tutsi population culminated in the most brutally efficient killing sprees in human history. There had been massacres before – beginning in 1959 and regularly thereafter – killing thousands, and forcing hundreds of thousands into exile.

The genocide was, therefore, neither entirely unexpected nor spontaneous. It was the outcome of a deliberate, state-orchestrated campaign over decades to dehumanize portion of the Rwandan population.

The ethnic ideology that promoted hatred and enabled genocide was a toxin that found its way into Rwanda’s bloodstream. It brought us to our knees. It threatened our viability as a nation. But it did not prevail. That is why as we remember for the 20th time, we are happy that we have the Rwanda we have today.

In the aftermath of genocide, the incoming government found that institutions had collapsed; the justice system was in disarray, the national economy was in tatters, civil society was non-existent, the population was traumatized, and the Rwandan territory was under perpetual assault from genocidal gangs seeking to as they said, “finish the job”.

It is impossible to overstate the scale of the challenges Rwanda confronted in 1994. The world expected total state failure characterized completely by aid dependency and unrelenting ethnic violence.

The practical tasks of reviving a dead economy and rebuilding institutions were daunting, but they would have been impossible if we had not begun to remove the toxic ethnic ideology that tore our country apart. This was – and continues to be our great national project. We have been guarding against bankrupt politics that feed on ethnic prejudice.

Genocide is too big a word and too scary a concept; therefore we might find it easier to start with warning signs of: discrimination, bigotry, definition of the enemy, and hateful words. Central African Republic, Syria, South Sudan; what is our joint contribution to bringing peace and unity to the people of these faraway places?

{{Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen}}

Today as we look back, we are heartened by the fact that Rwanda, by any standard, and against so many odds, has done well, and past gains inspire optimism for the future.

Yet, we still have a very long way to go, not just as Rwanda, but also as a global community. That is a common challenge I place before all of you this evening.

As we remember, we rededicate ourselves to unite more and to renew ourselves – and our faith in our quest to preserve our common humanity. We count on your solidarity and wise counsel, today and tomorrow, as we continue on what has been a most extra-ordinary journey for all Rwandans.

Thank you.

{kwibuka}

{{Seven Rwandans are expected to be prosecuted for genocide crime committed in Rwanda in the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s that claimed over a million lives.}}

According to Belgian press reports, over 36 Rwandans resident in Belgium are being investigated for genocide committed in Rwanda in 1994.

However, Investigations have been concluded for only seven members as federal prosecutors confirmed Tuesday.

According to a spokesman for the federal prosecutor, Eric Van Der Sypt it’s unlikely that the files will be reviewed this year, mainly due to the complexity of investigations.

Nobody has ever been tried for genocide in Belgium. Four trials held between 2001 and 2009 however, led to eight convictions for war crimes or crimes against humanity.

In France , Pascal Simbikangwa a Rwandan was first sentenced to 25 years in jail on March 14 for his involvement in the genocide of Tutsis, during which a million were killed in a period of three months.

A former captain of the Rwandan army, Simbikangwa , was sentenced for genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity. However, he decided to appeal.

The former captain Simbikangwa denied all charges, claiming to have crossed the 100 days of genocide without seeing a single corpse.

{{The Rwanda Sisterhood Association in the UK celebrated International Women’s Day on 15th March by organising a conference themed: Women’s role in Forging Unity and Reconciliation, which attracted over 170 women from 14 different countries.}}

The conference held at the Mayor of Southwark’s office complex in Southwark Borough, London, was hosted by his Lordship Abdul Mohamed, the Mayor of Southwark and also attended by the spouses of the High Commissioner’s from Rwanda, Tanzania and Namibia.

In his welcome remarks, Mayor Mohammed shared his own experience, noting that women are most powerful when they work in Unity and gave an example of the borough that he leads which has, reportedly, been the most productive council because of being led by women united in their efforts.

He also commended the association for taking the initiative to organise the event and encouraged them to strive to unite and continue empowering each other.

In remarks read on his behalf, the Rwanda High Commissioner to UK, H.E Williams Nkurunziza, commended the association for organising the event and shared with participants the highlights of Rwanda’s progress in women empowerment.

He noted, “Rwandan Government under President Paul Kagame has made a public commitment to make women empowerment a core of its process of governance.

Of note is the fact that women parliamentarians have been key drivers of progressive gender policies as well as strong advocates of gender empowerment programmes. The results of these initiatives have been phenomenal:

•64% of parliamentarians are women – the highest in world, followed at a distant second by Andora at 50%.
• 45 % of all SME businesses in Rwanda are controlled by women
•39% of accounts in Savings Cooperatives are held by women
•38% of all executive positions are held by women
•Four powerful Ministries in the country: Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Health and Disaster Management are in women’s hands.
•43.3% of district and sector level seats are held by women
•97% of all school age going girls see in school, higher than boys at only 95%.”

“These gains have enriched, not impoverished, our society. They have also demonstrate what is possible when you have the right leadership, articulating the right policies.

In our quest for unity, reconciliation and reconstruction, we have benefited from women as healing agents, thought leaders and peace builders. I hope your deliberations, today, will affirm this reality and strengthen your resolve as advocates for a more equitable world,” he added.

The conference was also addressed by Advocate Karen McKenzie, Acting Head of Human Rights at the Commonwealth Secretariat in London who spoke about the importance of Women in building a nation and applauded the role played by Rwandan women who, along with the rest of the Rwandan people deserve the credit of Rwanda’s transition from it’s terrible past.

She also vowed to make efforts in her role to ensure that the initiatives used by the Rwandan leadership were emulated in other parts of the world that are emerging from crisis .

Mrs Gladys Kavuma, the Kabaka of Buganda’s representative for women’s affairs in the UK and Ireland who was also a speaker on the day delivered an emotional speech, encouraging mothers to love and look after their children whole heartedly and to continuously make it their primary role.

She further shared a moving testimony about her son John Ddungu a gifted Chemistry student at Oxford University who tragically passed away in 2009 at only 21 years old.

Other speeches of the day included a motivational speech from Ms Sandra Godley a MOBO nominated gospel artist who spoke about the impact women in authority had towards the emancipation of women.

Godley introduced a concept to the women called “Paying forward” in which she argues that when something good is done to you, then in turn you must do good for someone else and pass on the good without expecting something in return.

She lauded women in the professional world who are “breaking the glass ceilings by using their own leadership styles instead of simply copying from others.”

The speech was followed by some entertainment and another speech from Pastor Grace Serwanga, on Healing, Forgiveness and Breaking Barriers.

The Pastor and Solicitor emphasised on the importance of forgiveness and how women need to redeem themselves by letting go of the hurt and pain inflicted by someone in their lives in order to find their inner peace and that forgiveness is key to enduring and long lasting relationships giving examples of how genocide survivors in Rwanda are able to live past their history because of forgiveness and healing.

Commenting on the event, the president of the association, Ms. Souvenir Mutesi noted: “I am very proud to be Rwandan. Seeing the significant steps Rwanda has made towards empowering women, and all the government has achieved in this regard makes me walk with my head held high.

My message to all my Rwandan sisters in the UK and all friends of the Sisterhood is that women in the UK have the potential to make significant achievements in their communities and beyond if they work together.”

“Driven by our motto – Be your Sisters’ Keeper – the association’s members refuse to let what they went through as individuals and as a nation hold them back or determine their future. We are sowing a seed of unity to inspire each other in-order to fight off the strong hold of post-genocide effects,” she added.

The conference was treated to a taste of Rwandan music by gospel artist Jackie Mugabo, a 15 – year old Rwandan artist Devine, and the Bene Ubumwe traditional troupe. Other artists included Sandra Godley of UK and Rachel Njeri from Kenya.

{14 year old Kevin Ssali stabbed to death}

{{A court in UK has today sentenced to fourteen years in prison a teenager who stabbed to death another 14 year-old teen born to Rwandan mother and Ugandan father.}}

Roree Cox now aged 18 years, from Wardalls Grove, New Cross, was found guilty of murdering Kevin Ssali 14 years after stabbing him on a bus in Lee Green in a dispute over a woolly hat on September 15 2012.

Kevin’s father Sewa Ssali says parts of the trial were “horrific” but its conclusion has helped provide closure and he is “thrilled” his son has been exonerated.

He added; “The trial was quite lengthy, but we are absolutely thrilled that at least Kevin has been exonerated because there was this issue that he was the tormentor.

“At the end of the day, this was a complete fabrication. It was the other way round. They bullied him. It was horrific to hear some of these things in the trial.

“Last time I said that there were lots of things that were haunting us and things unanswered, but actually quite a lot of information came out during the trial so it’s a very big relief and it provides some closure to the whole episode.”

{{Background}}

{Sewa Ssali pictured with his wife Erone and children Tim Ssali and Sara-Marie Ssali}

Before his stabbing to death, Kevin Ssali lived with his Rwandan mother Clemence Mudage in South Norwood, and commuted to Eltham, had been missing for two months before the attack.

Kevin’s father who temporarily lives in Lee High Road, claims his son turned up at school shortly after he went missing but his family were not told and he was allowed to leave again.

He said: “They just let him walk out of the school. Nobody knew where he had been staying for that week. What kind of responsibility was that?”

{{The Attacker}}

Cox ran onto the 202 bus, which had been travelling down Burnt Ash Road, brandishing a knife before stabbing Kevin once on the top deck. He denied murder but jurors unanimously found him guilty on January 15.

Speaking of Cox, Mr Ssali said: “I have no vengeance. I forgive him, it is up to him to come to it now himself.

“It is a terrible tragedy because these are kids who under normal circumstances should be playing together, contributing to society.

“We all as a society have got to sit down and question ourselves and think what is it that we are not doing right that our kids are ending up in a situation like this.”

He says the death of inspirational leader Nelson Mandela during the trial helped him with his attitude of forgiveness and hopes to work towards preventing further tragedies happening.

Kevin, who had two half brothers Tim Ssali, 25, Bobby Gillam, six, and two half sisters Sara-Marie Ssali, five, and Anne Ssali, 36, dreamt of becoming a bank manager.

{Roree Cox stabbed to death Kevin Ssali on a bus}

{{The Rwandan Embassy in China in collaboration with Rwandan community Thursday officially launched Kwibuka20 in China.}}

The event was also attended by several representatives of non governmental Organisations and Diplomats representing their countries in China.

Rwanda’s Envoy to China, Amb. Francois Ngarambe told diginataries present that the bad politics in Rwanda pushed a section of citizens against another section culminating into a genocide.

The Genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s in Rwanda in 1994 claimed over a million lives.

{{The Embassy of Rwanda in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the members of the Rwandan community on Monday officially launched Kwibuka20 in the United States. }}

Kwibuka means to remember in Kinyarwanda, and Kwibuka20 describes commemoration taking place in Rwanda and abroad leading up to, and during, the mourning period between April 7th and July 4th.

Dr. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the U.S.C. Shoah Foundation and the Executive Producer of Kwibuka20, welcomed a distinguished panel of speakers that are at the forefront of international efforts on genocide prevention.

The U.S. launch was attended by more than 250 people including members of the Rwandan community; members of the diplomatic corps, academics, foundations, and other representatives.

The program embodied the Kwibuka20 maxim to “remember-unite-renew”. The harrowing testimony of Jason Nshimye, a Bisesero genocide survivor, and remarks by Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, were a sober reminder of the dark side of humanity and the evil blight of genocide in the twentieth century.

The remarks by Clotilde Mbaranga Gasarabwe, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Safety & Security, and Amina S. Ali, Ambassador of the African Union Mission to the United States, called for universal learning from Rwanda’s experience that can help address raging mass astrocities in many parts of world including the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Mali.

An uplifting gospel song and a poignant poem provided a renewed sense of Rwanda’s future. Lit by Rwandans, Urumuri Rutazima, a flame of hope, remembrance, courage and resilience called for the global community to unite in a fight against genocide.

Senator Russ Feingold, U.S Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and D.R.C., emboldened the audience by demanding that they not let genocide define Rwanda.

He further related his own experience as a Jew and the traumatic history of Holocaust. Pointedly, he declared, “Rwanda will always be the country that experienced the 1994 genocide, but let that not be the first sentence, nor the last.

The Rwandan people are survivors, but they are more so entrepreneurs, teachers, public servants, and farmers. They are Rwandans.”

Dr. Adama Dieng, UN Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention, shed light on both institutional and personal responsibilities of genocide prevention.

He provided a touching personal testimony of Captain Mbaye Diagne, a United Nations military observerwhose life was taken because he saved of Tutsis, an example of the deep commitment at the individual level.

Rwandan Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana called for the need for a global community to discern lessons from Rwanda in order to prevent mass atrocities and genocide elsewhere.

On a very somber note, she reminded the audience that the commemoration period “is a time for honest reflection, frank dialogue, and a commitment to shared humanity.”

{{Rwandan Diaspora in Sudan on Wednesday officially launched kwibuka20 in El-Fasher at ARC compound TOWN HALL UNAMID HQ.}}

The event is one the official activities that will culminate into the commemoration week, according to a statement signed by the chairman of the Rwandan Diaspora, Sulaiman Kalisa.

The guest of Honour was the Joint Special Representative (JSR) of UNAMID Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who admired the Rwandans journey towards resilience and reconciliation from the ashes of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Rwanda has built a nation – a nation that has relegated the poignant memories of genocide to the background in order to realize stability, unity prosperity and democratic governance as well as contribute to causes of common good around the world.

“Let us also give this commemoration a real and positive meaning of resilience, forgiveness, reconciliation and unity, not only in Rwanda, but in Africa as a whole, said the JSR.

The Rwandan Charge d’affaires I.A at Kwibuka20 launch in Sudan Mr. SHYAKA K ISMAIL welcomed the invites and recalled them the essence of the day and invited them in Rwanda to share with Rwandans the story of genocide and create a powerful voice for the world to hear.

The Rwandan elder at the launching was the Brig Gen Norbert KALIMBA the UNAMID Force chief of Staff recalls Fellow Rwandans compassionates and others present that, Rwandans cannot escape the past and they should not try.

“We are bound to our history, with honest and compassionate reflection, we are not bound to repeat it, in fact it is in remembrance that we find seeds of renewal, Gen KALIMBA said.

Turn up were about 500 hundreds of participants.

Among the dignitaries present were the representatives of all UNAMID contingents present in Darfur and the Sudanese nationals who work for the UNAMID, as well as Rwandan peacekeepers representing other sectors and whole Rwandan community in El-Fasher.

{{On 13 February 2014, Berlin marked the launch of the 20th Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Germany’s capital city, Berlin. }}

The event that officially opened the 20th commemorative year of the Genocide was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in cooperation with the German Africa Foundation (DAS e.V.).

Taking place in the premises of the Federal Parliament, the event was attended by more than 200 guests.

Among them were dignitaries from German politics, including members of the federal Parliament, representatives of the federal and local government as well as members of the diplomatic corps.

Further, members of the Rwandan community, friends of Rwanda and the German-Jewish community participated actively in the function.

The event, moderated by ZDF (German public broadcaster)’s Andreas Huppert, was opened with the short film “Remember, unite, renew”. A musical performance throughout the evening by three professional singers of the rabbinical school, Abraham Geiger College, framed the event grandly.

The Rwandan Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Ambassador Christine Nkulikiyinka, started her welcoming remarks by calling for a minute of silence for the victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

She then explained the word “Kwibuka”, recalling the importance to remember by honouring the victims and the reconciliation of Rwandans over the past 20 years. The Rwandan envoy also stressed that the Genocide which occurred in Rwanda and took more than 1 Mio innocent lives ought not to be solely considered a Rwandan problem.

She stressed the lessons learned from the tragedy were of international impact. The prevention of genocides was an international duty as was the need to invest into its prevention, she said.

“The term “Never again” is well known in Germany. And we Rwandans also promote a very strong culture of commemoration. Genocides shall never occur again. Not in Rwanda, nor elsewhere.

And when we undertake efforts to build a better future for new generations, we do this by honouring the memory of friends and relatives who left us too soon. We are building a Rwanda in which all citizens enjoy equal rights. However, we also take on international responsibility.”

The Ambassador informed the audience about Rwanda’s contributions to UN-mandated peace-keeping missions and the country’s promotion of the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P), explaining that Rwanda took lessons from its recent past.

Recalling the German experience, she called upon a united front against genocide deniers everywhere.

The guest of honour, Vice president of the Federal Parliament Mrs Ulla Schmidt, commended Rwandans for not shying away from confronting their dark past. She encouraged the flame of remembrance to shine always and to be spread to the entire world.
Mrs Schmidt referred to the progress Rwanda has made over the past twenty years, while at the same time facing the challenge of reconciling and re-building a broken nation.

“Rwanda has achieved a lot, such as having the world’s highest percentage (65%) of female members in Parliament. We do not need many words to acknowledge your progress.

And you make an impressive contribution to peace and ownership of African solutions by engaging in peace-keeping missions across the continent, such as in Mali or the Central African Republic.”

The deputy speaker explained that coming to terms with the genocide and its aftermath was not a task for a Rwandans alone.

She referred to Germany’s first and ongoing trial of a Rwandan genocide suspect, stating that this shows that Rwandans are not alone and that impunity was not an option wherever perpetrators of genocide may be.

The event’s program also consisted of the testimony of a genocide survivor and her German husband. Jacqueline and Wolfgang Blam recalled and shared their memories of the tragic events in 1994.

When asked about her family, Jacqueline Blam said that this was a difficult question to answer because the majority of her close and extended family was killed during the genocide.

She called upon everyone to live in peace with their neighbours and asked politicians to first and foremost serve and protect those citizens whom they are responsible for.

In her final remarks Ambassador Nkulikiyinka said that, today, Rwandans understand themselves as one nation. What unites Rwandans was stronger and more diverse than what could possibly divide them, the Rwandan envoy stressed.

She also thanked all guests for expressing their solidarity with Rwandans by joining in the commemoration and for spreading hope.

The event was concluded with the lightening of the remembrance flame, Urumuli rutazima, which was carried by two youths. The flame will be travelling throughout Germany until the end of March.

{USA-Rwandan Diaspora in Midwest has been urged to uphold the unity as well as to contribute to the development of their country.}

The call was made during the celebration of the New Year event that was held in South Bend City, Indiana. It was attended by Rwandans in all ages and the party was marked by gospel songs, Traditional songs and testimonies of Rwandans who have achieved considerable progress in 2013 as well as thanking God for the Rwanda’s Progress.

Throughout speeches, they all centered to unity and helping each other to achieve more.

The President of Rwandan Diaspora in Midwest, Charles Ruhaya, thanked all participants for their contribution to make the event happened.

He however added that Rwandans must uphold their unity as well as actively contribute to their country’s Development.

{{Over three thousand Rwandans living in Canada and the United States yesterday attended the fifth edition of Rwanda Day in Torornto, Canada.}}

President Paul Kagame in his address said that those who are surprised by Rwanda’s achievements believe success is an anomaly for African nations.

Rwanda’s head of state said that his leadership is driven by the ambition to improve the lives of Rwandans not to attract international praise.

“Rwanda does not fight corruption to please others. It fights corruption because the leadership believes resources should benefit all Rwandans. Rwanda did not choose the path of development to win a prize or please anyone but ourselves”.

He said that it is time for Rwandans to wake up, and be determined to ensure that Rwanda does not die a second time.

President Kagame urged Rwandans in diaspora to invest in their country, because part from being their motherland, Rwanda has been ranked the 2nd most reformed economy.

“We call on all of you to make the kind of investments in Rwanda too or sensitize potential investors that there’s a country called Rwanda that provides conducive environment for investors. They will find all necessary requisites in place to enable their businesses make profits”.

Rwanda Day brings together Rwandans and friends of Rwanda living around the world to reaffirm their core national value and celebrate the country’s progress and discuss ways of being part of Rwanda’s social-economic transformation.

Rwanda Day event was launched in June 2011. Past events have been held in Boston, Chicago, Paris and London.

Rwanda day 2013 in Toronto, was held under the theme; Agaciro: “Investing in Our Future”.

RBA