The ceremony comes as Rwanda continues the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide Against the Tutsi, a period marked by remembrance, reflection, and renewed commitments to preserving the memory of more than one million lives lost during the 100-day genocide.
The unveiling will bring together senior government officials from Rwanda and France, members of the diplomatic corps, academics, researchers, and other distinguished guests.
The monument, titled Les Archives, was commissioned by the French State in partnership with the City of Paris and Ibuka France. It was created by Portuguese-born artist Grada Kilomba and is intended to serve as a permanent place of remembrance and reflection.
Located along the Esplanade Habib-Bourguiba in the heart of Paris, Les Archives consists of two large-scale rectangular structures designed to honour the victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi and provide a space for contemplation and tribute.
Following the ceremony, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame will attend a dinner at the Palais de l’Élysée hosted by President Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron.
The unveiling of Les Archives is expected to stand as a lasting symbol of remembrance in one of Europe’s most prominent capitals, ensuring that the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi continues to endure for generations to come.
President Paul Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame are in Paris, France, where they will join French President Emmanuel Macron for the unveiling of a monument honouring the victims of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.The monument, titled Les Archives, was commissioned by the French State in partnership with the City of Paris and Ibuka France. It was created by Portuguese-born artist Grada Kilomba and is intended to serve as a permanent place of remembrance and reflection.
The announcement marks the official confirmation from Maputo following concerns over the future financing of the mission after the European Union signalled reluctance to continue supporting the deployment through the European Peace Facility (EPF).
Speaking to reporters in Maputo on Friday, government spokesperson and Minister of State Administration Inocêncio Impissa said the presence of Rwandan troops remains essential as Mozambique continues to strengthen its own security capabilities.
“I do not know the costs or how long they will stay, but the agreements will strictly clarify this matter in the near future, but having this reinforcement allows us to continue to build our country’s capacity,” Impissa said.
He added that the continued support of Rwandan forces gives Mozambique time to reorganise and modernise its armed forces.
“This gives us time to continue reorganising our forces in terms of capacity, equipment, and technology, among others, while we also benefit from the support of friendly forces who secure the region,” he said.
Rwandan forces were deployed to Cabo Delgado in July 2021 at the request of the Mozambican government to help contain an Islamist insurgency that has plagued the province since 2017. Their intervention has been widely credited with helping recapture key towns, restoring stability in strategic districts such as Palma and Mocímboa da Praia, and enabling displaced residents to return home.
The confirmation from Maputo follows remarks made in March by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Olivier Nduhungirehe, who said the Government of Mozambique had committed to directly financing the mission after some European Union member states became reluctant to continue funding support.
“Rwanda came back to the basics and decided to deal exclusively with the Government of Mozambique,” Nduhungirehe said at the time, stressing that the partnership between Kigali and Maputo remained strong and effective.
He noted that the mission had delivered significant results over the past several years, including improved security, the reopening of businesses and schools, and the return of displaced families.
Nduhungirehe also argued that the intervention created the conditions necessary for major international energy investments to resume, including an estimated $50 billion in liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects led by European and American companies.
The EU has provided approximately €20 million in support for the Rwandan deployment through the EPF. However, Kigali has consistently maintained that the contribution covered only a fraction of the actual costs incurred by Rwanda, which it says has spent at least ten times more on the mission.
The funding question gained prominence after Rwandan authorities warned earlier this year that the deployment could be reconsidered if sustainable financing was not secured.
In August last year, Rwanda and Mozambique renewed their Status of Forces Agreement on Support to the Fight Against Terrorism during a visit by Mozambican President Daniel Chapo to Kigali. The agreement extended Rwanda’s military support in Cabo Delgado, with Chapo praising the partnership for helping restore peace in the region.
The security gains achieved by Mozambican and Rwandan forces have also helped revive confidence in Cabo Delgado’s economic prospects. The insurgency had forced French energy giant TotalEnergies to suspend construction of its LNG project and declare force majeure in 2021. Following improvements in security, the company lifted the declaration and, in January this year, agreed with the Mozambican government to resume construction activities.
As Mozambique continues efforts to build the capacity of its own security forces, officials say the presence of Rwandan troops remains a critical component of maintaining stability and preventing a resurgence of insurgent activity in Cabo Delgado.
The Mozambican government has confirmed that it will secure the necessary funding to ensure the continued deployment of Rwandan security forces in Cabo Delgado, reinforcing a security partnership that has played a key role in combating insurgency in the country’s northern region.
Patrick Nkurunziza, who was born in the neighboring DRC, is among those who lived a life they did not choose. At a very young age, he was recruited into the armed ranks of the FDLR militia group while still a child.
The FDLR is an armed group founded by individuals who participated in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and who have, over time, maintained an agenda aimed at destabilizing the Government of Rwanda.
The group has continued to operate despite concerns over its genocidal ideology and its frequent collaboration with Congolese forces.
As some of its founding members aged and others chose to return to Rwanda, the group increasingly turned to recruiting children born in the DRC into its ranks. It also expanded its activities to include the training of Congolese youth and the creation of allied militias such as Nyatura, alongside other groups influenced by divisive ideology.
Recruitment into the group has largely targeted children born in areas where it operates, particularly Congolese nationals.
Nkurunziza shared his testimony during an “Igihango cy’Urungano” youth dialogue forum, which brings together young people from across Rwanda to reflect on the country’s history and to honor the memory of youth who were killed during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
He explained that he was born in 1997 and was forcibly recruited into the FDLR at a very young age, beginning to handle a firearm at just 14 years old.
He also noted that his father had resisted joining the FDLR despite living in the DRC, but the group attempted to pressure him by forcibly recruiting his child.
“They captured me and another boy called John, blindfolded us, and took us to Rutshuru, into the forests of Walikale. The second aspect was constant psychological pressure, torture, indoctrination, training, and forced participation in harmful narratives aimed at denying the Genocide against the Tutsi,” he recounted.
“We were beaten daily and forced into activities such as stealing, carrying heavy loads, and transporting ammunition. I was a 14-year-old child, but they did not care. I was made to carry loads of up to 60 kilograms. I had no option to refuse; I had to comply until they decided otherwise.”
After this period, he was subjected to military training. He underwent a three-month training program and was issued a firearm at the age of 14, despite lacking the physical or technical ability to use it.
“I was given a gun at 14. They did not care whether I could use it or not. I held it until I learned how to use it, and I became a soldier like others. At that time, we were trained to say: ‘Work hard, we want to attack Rwanda, we want to destroy the Tutsi completely,’” he said.
He further explained that access to food within the group often depended on looting civilians, and in some cases, this involved violence and killings.
Patrick Nkurunziza, who was born in the neighboring DRC, is among those who lived a life they did not choose. At a very young age, he was recruited into the armed ranks of the FDLR militia group while still a child.
While the FDLR is often perceived as being composed mainly of older fighters due to its long history, Nkurunziza emphasized that the group also includes many young recruits, some of whom are his age or even younger, and who live under extremely difficult conditions.
After approximately six months, he began contemplating escape, despite the significant risks faced by a 15-year-old in such an environment.
He eventually approached a soldier he knew and expressed his desire to leave, stating that he no longer wished to remain in the forest due to exhaustion and continuous abuse.
“Even within the military I saw, there was no strength or hope that they would ever take Rwanda. I had no confidence in them at all,” he explained.
In 2010, he made the decision to flee the forest, embarking on a dangerous and uncertain journey.
Reaching peacekeeping MONUSCO forces proved extremely difficult for the 15-year-old and his companion. Along the way, they encountered individuals who attempted to stop them and force them back, with the intention that they be killed as a warning to others considering escape.
Despite these dangers, they managed to persevere and eventually reached MONUSCO protection after days of struggle.
Fearing capture and torture, they continued to move day and night until they reached safety.
While in Bukavu on his way home, Nkurunziza received devastating news that his parents had been killed by the FDLR in retaliation for his escape. The news was deeply distressing, but he continued his journey back to Rwanda.
“When I reached Rusizi at the border, I saw Rwandan citizens happy, healthy, and welcoming. The leaders received me with great warmth, and I heard people speaking Kinyarwanda,” he recounted.
Shock at the absence of heavy security around leaders
Nkurunziza explained that upon returning to Rwanda, he initially believed he might be killed, as he had previously been told that anyone who returned would be eliminated and used in staged recordings to discourage others from coming back.
“I told myself I might as well die like others. If they record me, so be it. In reality, I was already expecting death.”
After crossing the border, he was taken to the Nyarushishi transit center before being transferred to the Mutobo Reintegration Centre in Musanze District, a facility that supports former combatants in returning to civilian life.
At Mutobo, although he initially remained cautious and fearful, he encountered individuals he had previously seen in the DRC, including some with senior ranks, who were alive and well. This reassured him that he had indeed entered a safe environment.
He frequently recounts his experiences with a mix of humor and reflection, describing both the trauma he endured and the choices he made during that period.
During a graduation ceremony for trainees at the centre, he was surprised to see that the Mayor of Musanze District and the Governor of the Northern Province were not accompanied by armed escorts.
“In Congo, I was used to seeing mayors surrounded by soldiers and police. I wondered how there could be peace in a country we were told was full of killers, and that Tutsi were snakes who would be exterminated,” he narrated.
“Then I saw senior generals arriving with only a few soldiers. I immediately realized I had come to a peaceful country. From that moment, life began to feel different.”
Afterwards, the leadership at Mutobo sent him to the Nyarubande centre, which supports children and young people in learning Rwandan cultural values and taboos.
He later enrolled in a six-month hotel management course.
Upon completing his studies, he and other graduates were encouraged to identify and develop their talents. Having never had the opportunity to explore his own abilities due to life in the forest, he discovered his talent for singing.
He was supported and mentored, and went on to record 12 songs in both audio and video formats, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life.
He used his music to encourage others still in the forests of eastern DRC to return home and participate in national development.
Nkurunziza also secured employment, which further helped him rebuild his life.
In 2023, after rebuilding stability, he got married and started a family. He is now a husband and father of one child.
He expressed appreciation for the Government of Rwanda, security institutions, and citizens whose efforts contributed to building a peaceful and prosperous Rwanda where movement is free and life continues without disruption.
Speakers at the “Igihango cy’Urungano” dialogue urged young people to take part in rejecting and combating genocide ideology.
In a statement posted on social media, Sonko said he met President Faye earlier in the day to discuss the formation of the new administration. While the two leaders confirmed areas of agreement, “points of disagreement” emerged, particularly over the role of the parliamentary majority within the executive framework.
“As a result, PASTEF will not participate in the next government and will not be represented by any ministers,” Sonko said, adding that the party wished the new administration “full success.”
The announcement came shortly before new Prime Minister Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo unveiled a 30-member cabinet. The new lineup retained Cheikh Diba as finance minister, with his portfolio expanded to include the economy ministry in a bid to improve policy “coherence,” according to the government.
However, the roster of ministers appointed by Lo included at least three prominent members of PASTEF, revealing a direct political challenge to Sonko’s attempt to pull the party completely out of the executive branch. The inclusion of these figures, despite the party leader’s public directive, highlights a growing internal division between Faye’s administration and Sonko’s legislative bloc.
The political rift unfolds against the backdrop of mounting economic pressure in Senegal, which is grappling with a debt crisis triggered by the revelation in 2024 of previously misreported liabilities by the former administration. The International Monetary Fund subsequently froze a $1.8 billion lending programme, pushing Senegal’s debt burden to around 132% of GDP.
Finance Minister Cheikh Diba told parliament in May that talks with the IMF were expected to resume in June, with hopes of reaching agreement on key issues by the end of the month.
The latest tensions also follow a broader political reshuffle. President Faye recently dissolved the government and dismissed Sonko from his post, prompting the formation of the new cabinet under Prime Minister Lo. Despite this, lawmakers later reinstated Sonko to parliament and backed him as speaker, reinforcing his continued political influence.
Analysts say Sonko’s position could still shape the political landscape, given PASTEF’s large parliamentary majority and his strong opposition to IMF-backed reforms, including debt restructuring proposals.
President Faye recently dissolved the government and dismissed Sonko from his post, prompting the formation of the new cabinet under Prime Minister Lo. Despite this, lawmakers later reinstated Sonko to parliament and backed him as speaker, reinforcing his continued political influence.
“The Russian Embassy in France has demanded that Paris provide full details of the circumstances surrounding the detention and is taking comprehensive steps to protect the Russian nationals among the crew,” she said, calling the detention another example of European legal nihilism and the rewriting of international legal norms to suit themselves.
The French authorities misinterpreted Article 110 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which allows a warship to inspect a foreign ship in international waters if it is stateless, but does not authorize its escort to the port of the warship’s state, she said.
On May 31, a French warship stopped Tagor 400 km from the French coastline in international waters, alleging that the vessel was sailing from Russia’s Murmansk under a false flag.
France’s actions in detaining the Russian vessel Tagor violate international law, and Moscow demands that Paris provide full information about its move, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.
In a statement following the publication of the award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) on June 1, Government Spokesperson Yolande Makolo said Rwanda respects the tribunal’s decision and considers the matter closed.
“While Rwanda respects the Tribunal’s award and considers the matter concluded, we note that the dissenting and separate opinion by Professor Mohamed Abdel Wahab shows that the issues before the Tribunal were complex and open to different legal conclusions, including that the November 2024 exchanges relied on by the UK did not validly change the financial arrangements between the two countries,” Makolo said.
She added that Rwanda would continue to engage constructively with international partners in accordance with international norms and the principles of mutually beneficial cooperation.
The arbitration stemmed from a dispute over the Asylum Partnership Agreement signed between Rwanda and the United Kingdom. Rwanda argued that the UK had failed to honour financial and other obligations after the new British government abandoned the migration partnership in 2024.
At the heart of the dispute was Rwanda’s position that it remained entitled to a £50 million payment due in April 2025 under financial arrangements agreed between the two countries in June 2024. Rwanda also sought compensation related to other obligations under the agreement.
However, in an award issued on May 15, 2026, the three-member tribunal rejected Rwanda’s claims. By majority, the tribunal dismissed Rwanda’s request for the £50 million Year 2 payment, while unanimously rejecting claims relating to Year 3 funding, alleged breaches of Articles 18 and 19 of the agreement, and requests for compensation. The tribunal also ruled that each party should bear its own legal costs and share arbitration expenses equally.
Yet the decision was not unanimous on every point.
Professor Mohamed Abdel Wahab, one of the tribunal’s members, issued a
dissenting and separate opinion arguing that Rwanda’s central claim regarding the Year 2 payment should have succeeded.
According to Abdel Wahab, the November 2024 diplomatic exchanges cited by the UK did not constitute a legally binding amendment to the financial arrangements because the mutual consent required under international treaty law was absent. He concluded that the £50 million payment for Year 2 “remains due and payable to Rwanda.”
The dissent has attracted attention because it underscores that the dispute involved contested legal interpretations rather than a straightforward rejection of Rwanda’s position.
The tribunal’s findings contrast with arguments presented by Rwanda during hearings held at the Peace Palace in The Hague in March.
Appearing before the tribunal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja argued that Rwanda had fulfilled its obligations under the Migration and Economic Development Partnership (MEDP) and had acted in good faith throughout the process.
Rwanda maintained that it undertook significant legal and institutional reforms to implement the agreement, including constitutional amendments, new legislation, the establishment of an appeals mechanism, and the development of reception facilities for migrants and asylum seekers.
The government also stressed Rwanda’s broader record on refugee protection. During the hearings, Dr. Ugirashebuja highlighted that Rwanda hosts more than 130,000 refugees and asylum seekers and has welcomed displaced people from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Afghanistan, Libya and Sudan.
He argued that Rwanda’s approach is rooted in its own history of displacement and a belief that refugees can contribute economically and socially when given opportunities for integration.
Rwanda further contended that the UK failed to properly honour commitments made under the partnership after the election of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government, which quickly moved to abandon the controversial “Rwanda scheme.”
Rwanda has acknowledged an international arbitration ruling that rejected its claims against the United Kingdom over their abandoned asylum partnership, while emphasising that a dissenting opinion from one of the tribunal’s arbitrators demonstrates that Kigali’s position rested on credible legal foundations.The Migration and Economic Development Partnership between Rwanda and UK had been signed in April 2022, before unilateral cancellation.
Dr. Freddy Kaniki Rukema, who heads the AFC/M23 Ebola response team, said the situation in the city of Goma remains stable, with no new confirmed infections reported since the first case was detected on May 17. However, health authorities are investigating one suspected case.
According to Dr. Kaniki, health teams have identified 255 people who came into contact with the confirmed Ebola patient in Goma. Of these, 217 were classified as high-risk contacts and have been placed under a mandatory 21-day quarantine period in line with public health protocols, while the remaining 38 are being monitored through routine surveillance.
Three additional Ebola cases were reported in Murhesa, an area located in Kabare Territory in South Kivu Province. Dr. Kaniki said the outbreak was traced to a 26-year-old man who had recently travelled from Ituri Province and subsequently transmitted the virus to his wife and brother-in-law.
Health officials have so far identified 152 contacts linked to the Murhesa cases. Among them, 96 were deemed high-risk and placed in quarantine, while 56 others remain under observation.
AFC/M23 said laboratories capable of diagnosing Ebola are now operational in both Goma and Bukavu, adding that plans are underway to expand testing services to other areas under its administration.
“In the last 24 hours, we have tested 12 samples, with results available within six hours of collection,” Dr. Kaniki said. “This rapid turnaround supports early detection, timely patient management, and effective outbreak containment measures.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that the strain currently circulating in the DRC belongs to the Bundibugyo species of the Ebola virus. While no licensed vaccine or specific treatment currently exists for this strain, supportive care can significantly improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Kaniki said AFC/M23 has opted to administer Remdesivir to both confirmed patients and high-risk contacts, citing research conducted on Ebola, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The antiviral drug is expected to help reduce the risk of severe illness and death.
The coalition further announced that it has secured 500 doses of Remdesivir, which are set to be deployed in hospitals in Goma and Bukavu, where Ebola cases have been recorded.
Dr. Freddy Kaniki Rukema, who heads the AFC/M23 Ebola response team, said the situation in the city of Goma remains stable, with no new confirmed infections reported since the first case was detected on May 17. AFC/M23 has intensified its Ebola response efforts since the virus was detected in areas under its control.
The announcement is part of a broader global rollout making PYUSD available across 70 markets worldwide, spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America. In Africa, PYUSD is being introduced in 27 countries, with Rwanda listed alongside regional markets including Uganda, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Zambia.
According to PayPal, the expansion targets regions where international cross-border payments are traditionally restricted by legacy financial infrastructure, high fees, or lengthy transaction times.
“Consumers and businesses around the world are looking for faster, more seamless ways to transact globally, and the current system still charges too much, takes too long, and settles on timelines that were designed for a different era,” said May Zabaneh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Crypto at PayPal.
“Enabling PYUSD in users’ accounts across 70 markets gives people faster access to their funds, lower-cost ways to send money across borders, and a more direct path to participating in the global economy.”
For years, PayPal accounts registered in Rwanda have operated under a strict “Send-Only” structural model. While local users could link Rwandan bank cards to legally make outward payments or purchases online, they were entirely blocked from receiving international transfers, holding an in-app currency balance, or executing direct local withdrawals.
The introduction of PYUSD alters this technical dynamic by using blockchain-based infrastructure. Because stablecoins exist as digital tokens rather than traditional banking deposits, local users can bypass the traditional legacy clearinghouses that historically restricted regional accounts. This enables local freelancers and businesses to receive international payments and maintain a digital dollar balance directly within the interface for the first time.
Key features and settlement speed
PYUSD is a U.S. dollar-backed digital asset issued by Paxos Trust Company and fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term Treasuries, and similar cash equivalents. Within eligible PayPal accounts, users can buy, hold, send, and receive the token, as well as earn rewards directly on their stablecoin balances.
A primary operational feature highlighted by PayPal is internal settlement velocity. Merchants accepting PYUSD can access transaction proceeds within minutes rather than waiting days or weeks for traditional banking clearing cycles to complete.
This immediate internal availability of funds is expected to be highly relevant for digital freelancers, e-commerce entities, and exporters across East Africa who routinely face cash flow bottlenecks due to slow incoming international wire transfers.
Transaction and withdrawal mechanics
In responses to questions from IGIHE, PayPal senior executive Otto Williams, who oversees the Middle East and Africa region, clarified the practical operational and financial boundaries governing how local users will interact with the digital currency.
Williams emphasised that the expansion is aimed at injecting efficiency directly into the continent’s most active economic sectors:
“Bringing PYUSD to Africa is about delivering tangible value to the people and businesses driving growth in these dynamic markets,” Williams stated.
“Consumers gain a flexible, stable way to move funds faster, while businesses can streamline cross-border payments, improve settlement times, and unlock new opportunities for growth. By increasing access to a regulated, USD-backed digital currency, we’re breaking down barriers and helping reduce friction in global commerce across the region.”
For peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers, Williams explained that moving PYUSD directly between standard PayPal accounts carries no internal platform transaction fees. However, he emphasised that standard commercial transaction terms apply for business payments, and foreign exchange (FX) rates remain applicable whenever a currency conversion takes place. Local users also retain the option to transfer their stablecoin holdings out of PayPal to external, third-party cryptocurrency wallets, subject to standard blockchain network fees.
Crucially, Williams outlined a multi-step currency chain for converting digital balances into domestic fiat currency, clarifying that there is no native integration with local mobile money platforms. When a user liquidates PYUSD within the app, the asset is first converted into the default fiat currency assigned to their PayPal account (such as USD or EUR).
Moving those funds into the domestic banking system requires a standard external withdrawal. The final conversion into Rwandan Francs (RWF) occurs at that withdrawal endpoint and remains subject to local banking availability and traditional PayPal foreign exchange conversion fees.
Regulatory realities and competitive landscape
PayPal noted that while it operates across approximately 200 markets globally and adheres to a policy of compliance with regional jurisdictions, the local financial infrastructure and changing domestic regulatory frameworks mean that user experiences and specific feature availability will vary by country.
For Rwanda, which is actively positioning itself as a regional technology and innovation hub, this rollout provides a new asset-management pathway for a growing population of software developers, content creators, and remote workers billing international clients.
However, the launch also positions PayPal inside a highly competitive African digital asset market already heavily occupied by established crypto payment gateways and homegrown stablecoin platforms. PayPal aims to leverage its existing brand familiarity and established compliance architecture to differentiate its utility.
Ultimately, the domestic success of the rollout will depend on how efficiently local merchants and digital service providers can navigate the final cross-currency conversion steps required to transition their digital dollar balances into usable domestic liquidity.
The announcement is part of a broader global rollout making PYUSD available across 70 markets worldwide, spanning Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and North America.
Mutayomba, who operates within the FDLR’s Nyatura faction in North Kivu, was injured during intense clashes around Rubaya, a strategically important mining area that has repeatedly been the scene of heavy fighting between AFC/M23, Congolese government forces, and allied armed groups.
Initial reports had indicated that the commander had been killed, but subsequent information confirmed that he survived and was evacuated to Kinshasa, where he is currently receiving medical treatment.
The circumstances surrounding the fighting remain fluid, but Rubaya has become a focal point of military operations in recent months due to its mineral wealth and strategic location. The area has seen escalating violence involving multiple armed actors competing for control.
Mutayomba is said to have played a key role in operations targeting Banyamulenge and other Congolese Tutsi communities in eastern DR Congo, accusations that have long been associated with FDLR-linked activities in the region.
The FDLR, formed by individuals linked to the perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, has operated in eastern DR Congo for decades. It has repeatedly been accused of cross-border attacks into Rwanda and of promoting anti-Tutsi ideology and violence in the region.
Reports further indicate that Mutayomba is a Rwandan national who fled to DR Congo after the genocide and later rose through the ranks of armed groups active in North Kivu. His brother, Nzima, who reportedly fought alongside him, was killed earlier in January 2025.
Reacting to the reports, North Kivu Vice Governor Willy Manzi described Mutayomba as a commander whose activities had caused widespread suffering. He accused him of overseeing killings, looting, and destruction of property in Masisi, including the burning of villages and displacement of civilians.
“Mutayomba’s legacy is one of destruction. He killed civilians, looted communities, slaughtered livestock belonging to the people of Masisi, and reduced homes and entire villages to ashes,” Manzi wrote in a post on X, on Sunday.
Manzi also criticized what he called the continued protection and support allegedly extended to the militia leader, adding that Mutayomba was not a trained military officer but had risen from mining areas to become a self-styled commander within the FDLR structure.
Mutayomba (centre), who operates within the FDLR’s Nyatura faction in North Kivu, was injured during intense clashes around Rubaya.
The visit formed part of commemorations marking the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi. It offered participants a detailed educational tour on the history of the 1994 tragedy, from its origins to its aftermath and Rwanda’s recovery journey.
During the guided tour, members were taken through key historical elements, including the colonial roots that contributed to divisions, the role of propaganda and hate media such as Kangura newspaper and Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), and the systematic planning and execution of the genocide.
Participants also watched a short film featuring survivor testimonies that highlighted the human impact of the atrocities. The tour further examined the role of Gacaca courts in post-genocide justice, reconciliation, and the foundation of national healing.
The Genocide against the Tutsi claimed the lives of more than one million people in just 100 days before it was halted by the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA).
At the memorial, visitors paid their respects by laying wreaths at mass graves where over 250,000 victims are buried.
Speaking after the visit, members of the Indian Association of Rwanda reflected on the lessons drawn from the visit, stressing the importance of remembrance and global prevention of atrocities.
Mukri Hussain, Vice Chairperson of the Indian Association of Rwanda, said the experience carried a strong message of humanity.
“What happened here is really against humanity, and it should never happen again. That is the main lesson we have learned, not only for Rwanda, but for the entire world. Such events should never happen anywhere in the world,” he stated.
He noted that for many members, Rwanda has become a second home due to the country’s transformation over the years.
Namita Machchhar, an executive member of the association, said the visit strengthened their responsibility as residents of Rwanda to learn from history and contribute to preventing similar tragedies.
“As residents of this country, we strongly believe in brotherhood and sisterhood. It is our duty to take initiatives to prevent such tragedies,” she quipped, adding that “saving one life is like saving the entire universe.”
She also commended Rwanda’s progress and leadership led by President Paul Kagame, describing the country’s development journey as remarkable.
Jagan PK, a founding member and former treasurer of the association who lived in Rwanda before and during the 1994 genocide, noted that his experience reinforced the need for global vigilance.
“Such things should never happen to mankind. Never again,” he stressed, recalling the painful events he witnessed and Rwanda’s subsequent recovery.
He described Rwanda’s transformation as a “tremendous success story,” noting that the country has become a respected example of resilience and rebuilding.
Jwala Vijay Kumar, General Secretary of INAR, also reflected on the importance of remembrance and collective responsibility, saying, “We must always remember and learn from history to ensure it is never repeated.”
Dr. Saurabh Singhal, an executive committee member, said it is a “solemn duty” of the Indian community to stand with Rwandans in honouring the victims.
“This memorial stands as a powerful tribute, not only to the intense tragedies of the past, but to the extraordinary resilience and dignity of the Rwandan people,” he remarked.
The visit formed part of commemorations marking the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi.The visit offered participants a detailed educational tour on the history of the 1994 tragedy, from its origins to its aftermath and Rwanda’s recovery journey.Participants also watched a short film featuring survivor testimonies that highlighted the human impact of the atrocities.Mukri Hussain, Vice Chairperson of the Indian Association of Rwanda, said the experience carried a strong message of humanity.At the memorial, the Indian association members paid their respects by laying wreaths at mass graves where over 250,000 victims are buried.Jagan PK, a founding member and former treasurer of the association who lived in Rwanda before and during the 1994 genocide, noted that his experience reinforced the need for global vigilance.Dr. Saurabh Singhal, an executive committee member, said it is a “solemn duty” of the Indian community to stand with Rwandans in honouring the victims.Namita Machchhar, an executive member of the association, said the visit strengthened their responsibility as residents of Rwanda to learn from history and contribute to preventing similar tragedies.
