The ceremony took place at the Kigali Genocide memorial site where over 250,000 bodies of the Tutsi, including most of the members of PSF, all victims of the Genocide against the Tutsi, are buried.
The Chairperson of PSF in Kigali City, Bitwayiki André, said that commemorating is an event aimed at rendering dignity and value to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
“This is our way of honoring and paying tribute to what the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi had begun and achieved in our city,” He said
The PSF Chairman Robert Bapfakurera called upon private sector members to actively engage in building the country as opposed to those who helped destroy the country and to make sure that genocide ideology doesn’t creep into their families.
“I thank you for your contribution to the society in supporting Genocide survivors. With the zeal and courage that you show, I am certain that our country will reach greater extents,”Bapfakurera said. .
The Vice Chairman of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR), Kayumba Charles outlined the importance of commemoration to ensure that what took place 24 years ago never happens again.
“It is our responsibility to remember our fellow businesspersons who were killed in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and to ensure it never happens again”, he said.
PSF is yet to publish statistics of its members who lost their lives in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
A walk to remember was held preceding the main event. Around 300 people gathered at the FHI 360 Conference Center to honor the lives of the victims, to comfort the survivors, but also to recommit to a resounding Never Again.
During his remarks and reflection on a tragedy that could have been prevented by the international community, the Deputy Assistant Secretary Donald Yamamoto, representing the U.S. government said, “Rwandans bear the scars of the genocide, we all bear the guilt of the inaction.”
A panel discussion was held, discussing the different components of the theme Remember-Unite-Renew.
In his reflection on the revisionism crisis that is ongoing as part of the genocide denial discourse, Dr. Drew Kahn, one of the panelist underlined that “there is nothing spontaneous about the genocide. It is planned, and the narrative is repeated.” He followed these remarks by observing how the current Rwandan leadership has made efforts to have Rwandans be the ones telling their own stories. “President Kagame is not a story-teller. He is a story giver. What he has done is that he has returned the story of the genocide to its rightful owners, the Rwandan people.” He insisted that it is important for the international community to not only listen to the stories of the genocide from Rwandans themselves, but also to learn from their reconciliation and forgiveness processes.
Dr. Margee Ensign, a longtime friend of Rwanda touched on the subject of education, underlining that “Sustainable prevention of genocide begins with education. We must make sure that the education of our young ones is built from tolerance.”
Dr. Mironko, also insisted on making an intentional effort to understand the history of our country in order to adequately prevent the genocide from ever happening again.
Consolee Nishimwe, a survivor of the genocide, author, and women’s rights champion shared her moving testimony, demonstrating that survivors can, and have overcome adversity to be active contributors to the rebuilding of the country, and to recount their ordeal, so that the memory of the genocide may never fade.
There were over 40 students from various universities on the East Coast attending the commemoration, some of whom led the solemn crowd in a candle lighting ceremony.
In her remarks, Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana thanked those who joined Rwanda for this commemorative event, and thanked the speakers for shedding a light on different facets of genocide, its prevention, and the fight against genocide denial. Ambassador Mukantabana commended the recent resolution by the UN to modify the name and recognize April 7th as the International day of reflection on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. “The resistance to use the proper nomination of the Genocide against the Tutsi has lent strength to denial,” said Ambassador Mukantabana, designating this event as a step forward in the fight against genocide denial.
Amongst many distinguished guests were various Ambassadors, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, the U.N Permanent Representative, and Defense Attaches from various countries.
The preliminary investigation leading to the trial was carried out during the weekend by Scotland Yard’s war crimes unit.
The investigation took place following the Rwanda’s request to prosecute in Britain, the men who have been described as ‘Masterminds’ of the genocide.
Last year, the government of Rwanda requested for their extradition but the process ended in failure, after the court ruled that in Rwanda they may not get fare justice.
In an interview with the Times, Justice Minister, Johnston Busingye accused Britain of acting as safe haven for criminals.
Busingye demanded that the five suspects should be tried in the UK.
“Some of the people responsible for these rapes and murders are on your soil. We’ve got people extradited from Sweden, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Canada and the U.S. so, why does only the UK think we can’t give fair trial?” Busingye questioned.
“These are masterminds who somehow got UK citizenship paid by your tax-payers,” he added.
The event was attended by different officials including representatives of international organisations, ambassadors and representatives of Belgium government among others.
Speaking at the event, the ambassador of Rwanda in Belgium, Amb. Amandin Rugira told survivors that the government of Rwanda is doing all it can to support them in different aspects of life.
He hailed participants who attended the event saying that commemoration is part of national reconstruction.
“Commemoration is a good weapon towards reconstruction; it also helps to tell the truth about what happened,” he said.
Déo Mazina, the president of Ibuka (an Umbrella for Genocide survivors) in Belgium, reminded that commemoration strengthens unity among people and helps them not to be held with sorrow.
The 24th commemoration takes place after the United Nations Council approved appellation of the ‘genocide against the Tutsi’ and approved April 7th as the international day to commemorate victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
{{Photos: Karirima A. Ngarambe & Rutayisire Jessica}}
This action comes from the school’s recent partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The foundation, through its $50 million, five-year initiative Hanga Ahazaza — which means “creating the future”, plans to equip 30,000 Rwandans with skills to transition into the tourism industry.
According to the foundation’s website, the Rwandan students will “receive training in communications, customer service, ICT, and digital literacy skills, and receive on-the-job training and opportunities for employment.”
Apart from equipping students, Hanga Ahazaza will also help small businesses owners in the tourism and hospitality sector in Rwanda through “increased access to financial services and business development skills so that they can create more employment opportunities” the website further stated.
Cornell’s online teaching department, eCornell, will be part of the initiative and will provide students with online training and virtual access to the faculty for the students in the programme.
Cornell University Hanga Ahazaza assistant director Nickie Fredenburg said the Rwandan government is hoping to create 200,000 new jobs annually and the university, Fredenburg said plans to grow the tourism sector.
“By upskilling current managers, resulting in advancing careers and providing businesses the proper training to increase revenue and in turn, create more jobs,” Fredenburg told Cornell Sun.
Besides Cornell University, the Mastercard Foundation has teamed up with Dalberg, GIZ, GroFin, Harambee, Horwath HTL, I&M Bank Rwanda, Inkomoko, and Vatel Rwanda to roll out the initiative.
Harerimana was speaking Saturday while launching the remembrance week and 100 days of commemoration in the district.
“Let’s do our best to tell the truth because the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi is something that we could not stop speaking about in our life. But, this time should also be an opportunity to inculcate love, unity and fight against the genocide and its ideology,” he urged.
He requested residents to remember by continuing to contribute to national development, particularly to support and comfort genocide survivors.
Emmanuel Kageruka, a survivor in the district said that Tutsis in former Kayove commune were killed and thrown in Lake Kivu.
“Interahamwe Militia had formed barricades and Tutsi who were caught were killed and thrown in Lake Kivu,” he said.
Using examples, Kageruka said that the genocide was brutally executed in the district where children killed their parents.
“Genocide was cruelly executed in this region, for example a man called Gabriel Nzabandora threw his mother in Lake Kivu. Five more men threw their wives in Kivu,” he explained.
The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi took the lives of over one million.
Completion of the programme takes two years of part-time study and will provide graduates with a world-class MBA from a globally recognized university.
As part of the Coventry University and eLearnAfrica initiative, 50 civil servants will initially be offered the opportunity to study the Coventry University online MBA programme.
The CEO of eLearnAfrica, Brook Negussie, explained the benefits of the bursary and MBA. “We are very excited to offer access to this very prestigious programme. As it is fully online and has a more flexible part-time course load, students can continue with their responsibilities while earning a degree from a globally-recognized university. This is an international programme, so students will interact with their peers from around the world.”
Former Minister of Education of Rwanda, Prof. Silas Lwakabamba, who recently joined the eLearnAfrica Academic Advisory Board, is coordinating the initiative in Rwanda.
“This programme has been launched in Rwanda and promises to support the constant improvement of our civil servants, who work every day to serve the people of Rwanda. We are confident that Rwanda will serve as a model for similar programmes throughout East Africa and the rest of the continent.”
The MBA provides students with the opportunity to gain the knowledge and skills required to progress to more senior leadership roles. Students will gain an internationally recognized business qualification from a highly reputable, leading UK university.
Students will study through the social learning platform FutureLearn, giving them a chance to share knowledge and experience with other students and industry experts from across the globe. The platform is easily accessible on mobiles, tablets and desktops, making it easier to fit the course and learning around other commitments. Students will still have access to world-class teaching, with all learning and assessment taking place online. They will also receive the same Coventry University degree as those who study on-campus.
Bursary applicants must send an up-to-date CV to [students@elearnafrica.com->students@elearnafrica.com] for consideration for the bursary award and the Coventry University online application process.
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree and should have at least two years of experience in a professional position.
Peacekeepers deployed in Central Africa Republic; Darfur in Sudan and South Sudan were on Saturday joined by friends to commemorate.
Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) together with the Rwandan Community living in Bangui, Central Africa Republic (CAR) were joined by CAR Government dignitaries including the President of Central Africa Republic Faustin Archange Touadéra; and UN officials to mark the 24thcommemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The commemoration event was held at Rwandan Contingent camp, Socatel M’poko, Bangui.
In his commemoration message delivered by the Prime Minister Patrice Sarandji, President Touadéra , who also lit the Flame of Remembrance and laid wreath to a monument in honour of victims of the genocide, said that the genocide against the Tutsi is an example of the failure of the international community.
“Every time we meet here to remember, our memories are refreshed by failures of the international community in Rwanda in 1994. We also look back and imagine what would have happened if peacekeepers in our country decided to abandon us… we would also be in the same situation like Rwanda,” Prime Minister Sarandji said.
He thanked the Rwandan peacekeepers for their role in restoring peace and security in CAR.
Rwanda peacekeepers in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan ( UNMISS) and Rwandan Community in South Sudan were joined by the United Nations Officials and other for commemoration.
The Commemoration event was held at Juba Tomping Camp base of Rwanbat1 and attended by different dignitaries including the UNMISS Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, David Shearer who delivered a message of condolences to the Genocide victims and accepted the failure of international community as a fact in Rwanda in 1994.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports in South Sudan, Salal Rajab Bunduki said that the history of Rwanda has a lot of lessons for South Sudan.
He appreciated the efforts of Rwandans in fighting against those who deny and trivialize the Genocide against Tutsi from across the World.
A similar commemoration event was also held in Malakal where Rwanda peacekeepers maintain positions.
Also in Darfur, Rwandan Peacekeepers serving under the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) and Community were joined by other UNAMID peacekeepers and different friends to mark the commemoration of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
The event was marked by a walk to remember and lit of candles in memory of the Genocide victims. It was attended by different dignitaries including the UNAMID Force Commander, Lt Gen Leonard Muriuki Ngondi.
While addressing the audience, the Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Rwanda in the Republic of Sudan, Ismael Shyaka noted that the commemoration was an annual occasion to reflect on what happened in 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, 45 years after the Holocaust.
“After the Holocaust the International Community and the United Nations had decided to prevent such crimes by creating legal provisions. But where were the International Community and the United Nations in 1994?” he questioned.
“The young generation and generations to come have the right to know the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi as part of their dark history. So we have a duty to tell the truth about what happened and preserve all genocide proofs” he added.
Lancaster said that they had a successful meeting where they discussed ways how both countries can work together in peacekeeping and training.
“I am delighted to be back here in Rwanda. This is my third time to visit Rwanda. The United Kingdom and Rwanda have grown long standing relationship and I am here as British defence minister looking for how we can work together with Rwanda particularly in the areas of peacekeeping and training. It has been a very successful meeting,” Lancaster said.
The British defence Minister promised a continued partnership in training and peacekeeping.
“Our major focus was to see really how we can continue work together in training, how the British Army can continue to support the RDF in various training organisations also how we can work together when it comes to peacekeeping of the UN… for example we have Engineer Regiment in South Sudan and you have infantry battalions, we looked at the lessons learnt from each other”, he added.
The bilateral defence cooperation meeting was also attended by HE Joanne Lomas the new High Commissioner to Rwanda and Non-resident Ambassador to the Republic of Burundi, Rwanda Defence Force Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Patrick Nyamvumba, the Dircetor General of Policy and Strategy, Maj Gen Ferdinand Safari, the RDF Chief of operations and training, Brig Gen Chris Murari, Brigadier David Eastman MBE (Head of International Policy and Plans), Col Alasdair (Military Assistant), Lt Col Mathew Edwards (UK Defence Advisor to Rwanda).
In a procession that started from Uhuru Park down to Central Business District, Rwandans carried banners with messages that paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, support to survivors and fighting genocide denial.
The Walk to Remember procession was an opportunity for Rwandans to share their own stories related to the tragic events that befell their country whereby a million lives where taken in less than a hundred days.
Speaking at the end of the procession, Rwanda High Commissioner to Kenya Ambassador James Kimonyo thanked members of the community for turning out in numbers.
“Thank you all for making time to participate in this important event as we remember lives that were brought to an abrupt end during 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. We organize the Walk to Remember procession, so as to pay tribute to victims of the Genocide but also to say Never Again to the acts of the Genocide in Rwanda and anywhere else in the world”.
“I take this opportunity to remind you that our main Commemoration event will be held at UN offices in Gigiri on Tuesday 10th April where we will be joined by officials from Kenya government and a representative of United Nations Secretary General. I am happy to announce that the U.N in January finally recognized this genocide in the manner that it was and now we will join them this Tuesday in the commemoration activities in Gigiri,” he said.
Ambassador Kimonyo told the solemn crown at Uhuru Park that the aim of the commemoration is to sensitize and educate the younger generation so that such a thing does not happen ever gain.
During the commemoration due on this Tuesday, there will be a panel discussions involving both Rwandan and Kenyan students. The discussions will not only reflect on what happened but geared towards working together to avoid such occurrence in the future.
