The request was made yesterday on Thursday 15th March 2021 during a ceremony to commemorate the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and according decent burial to 98 remains of Genocide victims at Ruhanga memorial in Rusororo sector.
These remains were recently exhumed from different parts of Gasabo district.
Ruhanga is among places holding unique history where Tutsi resisted Interahamwe militia using traditional arms. They however ended up being killed as Interahamwe sought interventions from soldiers to kill Tutsi.
As the soldiers came, Tutsi were taken inside the Anglican Church in the area where they were killed and burnt using fuel.
During the ceremony, the representative of IBUKA, organization umbrella of genocide survivors in Gasabo district requested authorities to build a wall bearing names of Tutsi killed during Genocide so that they can be remembered easily and preserve history.
“We cannot forget killed relatives when we see names written somewhere. Building a wall bearing their names would help us, friends and future generations to remember them easily,” he said.
The executive secretary of Gasabo district, Umwali Pauline has told IGIHE that they are going to make plan so that the requested wall can be built.
“It is the responsibility of leaders to ensure proper maintenance of memorials, organizing commemoration events. We have understood their request and the next move is to see what we can do in the right using available resources,” she explained.
Located at the former Anglican Church, Ruhanga Genocide Memorial accommodates remains of 37 747 genocide victims excluding 98 remains buried yesterday.
Munyenyezi is expected to arrive in Rwanda this Friday 16th April 2021.
Munyenyezi fled to USA in 2003 where she requested political refugee status.
Ten years later, she was stripped of US nationality on 21st March 2013 after Manchester Court in New Hampshire State convicted her of complicity during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
During trial proceedings, the court explained that Munyenyezi helped Genocide perpetrators to spot Tutsi at the road block set near a hotel of her father-in-law in Butare.
The court also identified her as one of key members of the then ruling political party, MRND that planned and executed Genocide against Tutsi.
Munyenyezi and her children fled to Kenya after Genocide against Tutsi. He applied for US refugee status in 1995 disguising as one of people affected by Genocide.
Munyenyezi settled in Manchester, New Hampshire, with three young daughters in 1998 after claiming to have been persecuted in Rwanda.
She caught the attention of the US authorities several years later after giving false testimony on behalf of her husband and mother-in-law who were later sentenced to life in prison for genocide and other crimes against humanity by an international tribunal.
The grenade blasted on Thursday 15th April 2021 morning when the boy climbed onto the rooftop of their house to fix a roofing tile.
As he reached the rooftop, he saw a cord fastened to a metal object which he took down and played with it.
His sister and mother warned him against playing with the object which shortly started exuding smokes.
The executive secretary of Gacurabwenge sector, Christine Nyirandayisabye has told IGIHE that the victim immediately threw the object to a nearby avocado tree and exploded instantly.
The boy was injured on the shoulder and arm, on the belly around the waist. He was immediately taken for medical attention.
Local leaders rushed to the scene where they realized that it was a grenade that had been laid on the roof of their house.
Nyirandayisaba appealed to the residents to alert local leaders in case they find strange objects and avoid playing with them.
“We would like to comfort residents and reassure that their security is guaranteed. We also advise them against playing with strange objects,” she said.
The duo includes Manirahari Innocent who died immediately and Ndirinde Emmanuel who survived with leg injuries.
The incident took place last night around 10pm in Nyakabanda village, Rwangara cell, Cyanzarwe sector, Rubavu district in Western Province.
The Second-In-Command (2IC) of 201 Brigade operating in the districts of Rubavu, Nyabihu, Ngororero and part of Rutsiro, Lt Colonel Innocent Mpabuka has advised residents against crossing through illegal entries to avoid incidences including loss of life.
“You should stop crossing through porous entry points. Some people pass behind our backs but we won’t tolerate that because it might provide loopholes for FDLR present in the neighboring country. They might maneuver using similar paths to cross into the country. You have rights to cross through legal entries. So, crossing through porous entries poses security threats. Let us abide by regulations and shun such behaviors because we don’t want to shoot our citizens,” he said.
The mayor of Rubavu district, Habyarimana Gilbert, has also requested residents to avoid crossing through the valley because they might be confused with the enemy.
“I hope you are aware of what takes place over there. It is unfortunate to have fellows threatening security. There are well known smugglers in this area. You have witnessed what happened but some might not have learnt from the incidence. We held discussions last time and agreed to discontinue such acts. As you see, one has died and another survived with leg injury. This shows that the country is protected. Continuous use of illegal entries is like committing suicide because they might be confused with enemies,” he said.
The latest incident took place on 26th October 2020 when a resident was shot crossing into Rwanda through the valley between both countries.
Another man aged 38 and a woman in the age bracket between 30 and 35 were shot in the same area in May 2020.
Marizamunda was appointed by yesterday’s cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame at Village Urugwiro which also reviewed existing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The cabinet meeting also made new appointments in different institutions including Rwanda National Police, correctional and rehabilitation bodies among others.
Marizamunda was transferred to Rwanda National Police (RNP) from Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in 2014. He was at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the time.
Marizamunda was replaced by Jeanne Chantal Ujeneza who has been serving as the RCS Deputy Commissioner General.
The mother of two was born in Rulindo district on 30th December 1967. He was transferred to RCS from RDF at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Ujeneza joined the military in 1988.
Among others, Fred Mufulukye who was the Governor of the Eastern Province has been appointed the Director General of the National Rehabilitation Service (NRS).
He replaces Aimé Bosenibamwe, who passed away last year.
Rtd Commissioner of Police (CP) Faustin Ntirushwa has been appointed the Deputy Director General of NRS.
Other institutions that got new appointees include Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) and the Ministry of Justice among others.
Gen Sekamana resigned yesterday in a letter he wrote to FERWAFA’s committee citing personal reasons.
“Considering the fact that supervising football body nowadays requires me lot of time and effort because it is important to monitor it day by day. This requires me to do it as a daily routine. I find that combining it with my other personal responsibilities would have had a negative impact on the development of football,” he said.
Brig Gen Sekamana thanked FERWAFA committee for trust bestowed upon him and teamwork spirit during his stay in office.
Sekamana became Ferwafa president in 2018 after obtaining 45 votes out of the 53 votes in an election beating his rival Louis Rurangirwa who got 7 votes.
He replaced Vincent ‘De Gaulle’ Nzamwita who resigned in January 2018 due to personal reasons after running the federation for 4 years.
(Rtd) Brig Gen Sekamana resigns eight months before ending his tenure.
Marcel Habyarimana, who is a Vice President in the federation, will serve as interim President until March next year as stipulated by FERWAFA laws in article 31.
Ranked 2nd most peaceful country in the EAC by GPI 2020, 2nd in the Sub-Saharan Africa region by the Economic Freedom Index report 2020, 3rd globally among peacekeeping top troop contributing countries, recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a country that was able to suppress the COVID-19 early, Rwanda’s progress is attributed to President Paul Kagame’s strong and effective leadership.
Besides the prevailing peace and progress, however, Rwanda has not been in short of campaigns by armed groups in the region including but not limited to the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), Rwanda National Congress (RNC), and particularly FLN; the military wing of Paul Rusesabagina’s MRCD, which instigated terrorism attacks, killed and injured unarmed innocent civilians in Nyabimata in June 2018.
In fact, Rusesabagina had premediated these attacks. On 28 Jan 2016 at Voice Of America (VOA), he publically declared that he was going to take political action to liberate the Rwandan People from President Paul Kagame’s dictatorship.
Later, in his own words, he also affirmed in a video recalled in early 2019, but still available online, that the attacks marked the launch of liberation struggle against the Government of Rwanda. He also reiterated that FLN launched a military struggle to liberate the Rwandan people and insisted on the sense of urgency to speed it up in 2019.
In effect, pursuant to 2018 Rwanda’s National Public Prosecution Authority’ (NPPA) arrest warrant, Rusesabagina was put under arrest after luring himself and his plane landed in Kigali and voluntarily alighted. His charges include financing terrorism, murder, abduction, robbery and arson, etc, as acts of terrorism in connection with his MRCD/FLN attacks in Nyabimamata.
These attacks were acknowledged by different state actors including Belgium and USA (where is a national and resident respectively) whose Departments of State’s Travel Advisory on Rwanda urged travelers “to exercise increased caution along the Rwanda-Burundi border due to armed conflict”.
In spite of the crimes Rusesabagina has to answer, his supporters, particularly the members of the European Parliament passed a resolution implying, among other things, to release Paul Rusesabagina. Similarly, some members of the USA Congress like Carolyn B. Maloney, addressed a letter to President Paul Kagame requesting to release him with immediate effect. Both requests reflected may be their ignorance of the matter, partisanship and or double standard.
Undoubtedly, members of EU Parliament as well as some members of US Congress who promote the release of Paul Rusesabagina understand the legal implication of terrorism crimes and are fully aware that the intent of the counter-terrorism acts in their jurisdictions like the US Patriot Act to deter and punish terrorist acts in their jurisdictions is the same aspiration Rwanda is pursuing in the case of Rusesabagina.
So, releasing Rusesabagina as the EU Parliament and some members of USA Congress like Carolyn B. Maloney purport, would be doing a disservice to Rwanda, particularly the victims of Rusesabagina’s MRCD / FLN actions and nurturing a norm that would support subsequent culture of violence.
More importantly, Rusesabagina’s case also contains an extraordinarily sensitive charge: Arson as an act of terrorism as MRCD/FLN used fire as mass scale coercion and violence to ensure greater degree of risk to human lives in Nyabimata.
Arson has a profound, sensitive and tragic meaning in the history of violence in Rwanda. It was a great weapon used in 1959, 60s and 70s to chase away and force the Tutsi to exile and deadly internal displacement and was massively used in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to speed it up and create greater impact in terms of mass murder of Tutsi and destruction of their properties.
Rusesabagina’s MRCD/FLN usage of incendiary attacks to create greater impact on human lives in Nyabimata reminded the traumatizing arson attacks also dubbed Palestian intifada against Israel in November 2015 that were later condemned by the USA through the Secretary of State John Kerry who also warned Mohamed Abbas against arson attacks. The September 11, 2001, terrorism attack on the World Trade Center are also examined in terms of the impact of the improvised incendiary device, the airplanes, on the World Trade Center buildings.
Undoubtedly, if the EU Parliament and some members of US Congress like Carolyn B. Maloney, would be asked if it was the right thing to do to release with immediate effect those responsible of the September 11, 2001 in the US or elsewhere in Europe, their answer would be a big No.
Again, if they would be asked if holding accountable Bin Laden wouldn’t be a charm trial as they describe Paul Rusesabagina’s case, their answer would be NO. Rather they would appreciate a campaign to dismantle terrorist organization like Al-Qaeda and their networks. So, subordinating national security to someone’s terrorist crimes isn’t tolerable by any nation state especially when the offender acts exactly in the spirit of a Genocide that killed more one million lives.
Most surprisingly, the EU parliament members’ description of Rusesabagina’s own luring to Rwanda as kidnapping represents double standard. Rusesabagina lured himself after being led by his friend to board a private jet to Rwanda while his destination was Burundi. This reminds a similar case that happened in Europe and it wasn’t called “kidnapping”.
On 19th March 1991, Walter Stocké from German was arrested in France over fiscal charges in his home country after his friend M. Köster who was in contact with the police in Germany, led him to board a private jet to German while his destination was Luxemburg and Walter Stocké was immediately arrested. It is quiet s questionable why the EU Parliament didn’t refer to Walter Stocké’s case to serve as jurisprudence as it does even today in Europe.
Most alarmingly, Rusesabagina had consistently denied the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and Rwandan authorities had previously issued another international arrest warrant against Rusesabagina, but in vain, as he continued to enjoy the red carpet in the most of Western countries.
On 11 January 2018, in Northwestern University Community for Human Rights (NUCHR), USA, in a conference on Human Rights, Rusesabagina was a keynote speaker and denied the genocide against the Tutsi and purported the double genocide theory. He endeavoured to convince the audience that the” Genocide against the Tutsi was not planned and executed and that it was just a mere war between Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups”.
He did the same on 26th April 2008, in a conference in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands where Rusesabagina held at fault the victims of the genocide in 1994 genocide against the Tutsi that they were responsible for their own harm and demise. He made the case that the “roadblocks where Tutsis were singled out and executed were manned by Tutsis infiltrated by the RPF”.
Surprisingly, most western countries where Rusesabagina was denying genocide, prohibit the denial of genocide as it is an integral and final part of the genocide that lasts throughout and had all ratified the Genocide convention. It is in the spirit of this, for example that Facebook, Inc decided recently it would begin removing Holocaust denial posts from Facebook and Instagram. So, it imperative to observe the same principle with regard to the Genocide against the Tutsi.
However, if one would attempt to profile Rusesabagina, the details of the situation he is in today connects with earlier event quickly transformed into a platform that made Rusesabagina internationally famous: Hotel Rwanda, a film, not a historical record, but a fictionalized depiction of a story in which Paul Rusesabagina claim all credits that he saved 1267 lives under the scourge of the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
After the release of Hotel Rwanda, Rusesabagina was awarded with numerous international human rights awards including the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, Immortal Chaplains Prize for Humanity, National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award, etc.., and was praised by everyone including George Bush who portrayed him an “extraordinary great man”.
However, Rusesabagina and Hotel Rwanda, received repulsive criticism. Eyewitness that include UNMIR peacekeepers whose mandate also included “contributing to the security and protection of displaced persons, refugees and civilians at risk”, despite not being up to the task, have what they saw: For example Major Stefan Stec, one of the UN observers who was staying at the hotel during the genocide, reported that Rusesabagina at one point gave the Rwandan army the names and room numbers of the most threatened Tutsi refugees.
In addition UNAMIR’s force commander Romeo Dallaire dismissed the film as “not worth looking at”. At one point in time after the release of the Film, Romeo Dalaire told a conference: “I would like you to acknowledge the role played by those UNAMIR troops who stayed in Rwanda, including the troops from Congo-Brazzaville who were the ones who saved the people at the Hotel Mille Collines – not the hotel manager, Paul Rusesabagina”.
Similarly, survivors from the hotel Mille Collines said that the manager was an opportunist who had made them pay for everything in the hotel even though Sabena Airlines, which owned the hotel, had sent him a fax instructing him not to.
While, many would appreciate some traditions which work well elsewhere particularly in the US and Europe, specifically their antiterrorism principle to “to deter and punish terrorist acts”, it should not be compromised by any institution or individuals as especially in the case of Rusesbagina his terrorism acts happened in the spirit of Genocide against the Tutsi which the offender also denies consistently.
Some Western State actors are recognized for prohibiting denial of the genocides. For Example, Canada, in 1985 the Ontario government in Canada prosecuted Ernst Zundel, for distributing a Holocaust denial pamphlet. On 26 January 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted without reservation any denial of the Holocaust. The Genocide against the Tutsi was officially recognized by the UN and Rusesabagina’s acts of terrorism were instigated in the spirit of that Genocide. Both should be deterred and punished and no one should be led to lies that contravene the world shared principles that work for all us.
{ {{Emmanuel Mugiraneza, the writer, is a public servant at Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), interested in international affairs & Holds a Masters Degree in International Relations & Diplomacy}} }
He made the observation on Tuesday 13th April 2021 as he attended the launch of annual dialogue dubbed ‘Raisina Dialogue’ held for the 6th time discussing problems affecting the global community.
These discussions are organized by Observer Research Foundation in partnership with India. This year’s edition will last four days. The official launch was presided over by India Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Addressing participants that virtually attended the dialogue on the first day, President Kagame said that COVID-19 has not only affected the health sector but also global cooperation.
“Covid is a public health crisis, but it is also a crisis of international cooperation,” he noted.
Kagame also hailed India for efforts geared towards facilitating the provision of vaccine doses on African continent despite its own challenges.
“Access to vaccines is highly unequal. In a situation of scarcity, power and wealth will always set the tempo. India despite its own challenges has produced most of the vaccine doses sent to Africa, under Covax and related programs,” he noted.
In March 2021, India donated 50,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses of AstraZeneca type to Rwanda.
President Kagame highlighted that ‘without India’s production capacity and spirit of solidarity, it is possible that Africa would not yet have received much vaccine at all’.
He said that the unsustainable situation demonstrates the opportunity for more ambitious private-sector investments between India and Africa, in Pharmaceutical manufacturing, among other areas.
The President also commended Rwanda; India relationship which continues to flourish.
“The relationship between India and Rwanda continues to flourish, and our goal is to further deepen our ties. Rwanda and India continue to collaborate on important infrastructure and development initiatives,” he stressed.
“The key objective is to increase the educational and employment opportunities available to young people in both India and Rwanda. Knowledge, innovation and green economy will still be the key drivers of growth after the pandemic,” added Kagame.
Among others, Kagame stressed that the Observer Research Foundation’s annual Kigali Dialogue is another good example.
“This event brings a fresh perspective to global debates on development and growth and attests to the increasing multipolarity of our world. I hope that many of you will come to Kigali for the next edition in 2022,” he said.
They are appreciated for their commitment to resist evil and fighting against the execution of Genocide.
He delivered the message today as he presided over the ceremony closing the commemoration week that also coincided with the remembrance of slain politicians killed over opposing plans perpetrate Genocide against Tutsi.
The ceremony took place at Rebero Genocide Memorial where over 14,000 victims including Tutsi killed in Kigali as Genocide began and politicians that opposed Genocide plan.
Dr. Iyamuremye explained that remembering these politicians is essential because Genocide was not executed by accident.
“As proven by expert and researcher on the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi, Genocide can’t be executed without support of leadership. Genocide against Tutsi was also planned and executed because bad leadership utilized maximum resources, political parties and other Government’s entities,” he noted.
Dr. Iyamuremye said that these politicians remembered stood against hatred, divisionism and Genocide preparations and were aware that they could lose life but kept the bravery spirit due to the love for Rwanda and Rwandans.
“They were not hunted for ethnic groups but for their virtues to stand against hatred, ethnic divisionism and Genocide ideology. We should not however forget that there are some that were killed for being good politicians and Tutsi. Those killed trying to save Tutsi and resisting Genocide ideology are also found among other categories of Rwandans. They were also characterized by self-less dedication until they accepted to sacrifice their lives to save hunted Tutsi,” he stressed.
Dr. Iyamuremye requested Rwandans to uphold the good legacy left by politicians.
“We should uphold the legacy of politicians we remember today striving that genocide never happens again, desisting propagandists denying and trivializing Genocide and those fueling their destructive ideologies. This will give the right meaning to our theme of remembering while rebuilding,” he noted.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG), Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana has said that political parties held mobilizations to incite hatred and killing of Tutsi between 1990 until 1994.
He explained that Rebero Genocide Memorial accommodates over 14,000 Genocide victims killed in different parts of Kigali including Nyamirambo, Gitega, CHUK and Cyahafi among others.
The former Prime Minister, Agathe Uwiringiyimana, leaders of PL political party including Landouard Ndasingwa, Kabageni Venantie, Charles Kayiranga, Jean de la Croix Rutaremara, Augustin Rwayitare and Aloys Niyoyita are among 12 politicians killed during genocide and buried at Rebero memorial.
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube are amongst the top social media platforms used by a large number of propagandists, undermining and denying the Genocide against Tutsi that took lives of over 1 million in 100 days.
Most of them use abusive words that are intended to hurt Genocide survivors and moreover fuel ethnic divisionism among Rwandans, ignoring the truth to which they have facts and evidences.
Ujeneza has authored books including ‘De l’autre côté de l’Ecran, SIMBI’. She is the daughter of Boniface Ngulinzira who served as Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs between 1992 and 1993.
Ngulinzira was among politicians that distanced themselves from the ruling political party, MRND that masterminded Genocide.
He played a pivotal role in Arusha Peace Agreements during his officer term. Ngulinzira later kept a close eye to their implementation which infuriated the Government of the then President Juvénal Habyarimana.
Even though he was not among hunted Tutsi, Ngulinzira was assassinated on Nyanza hill in Kicukiro on the evening of 11th April 1994 over his firm beliefs to stand for the truth and to strive for harmony among Rwandans.
Ujeneza has, via her twitter wall, blamed people – whom the majority is the youth, using social media platforms to spread hatred and denial of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.
She further said that such deniers warmly welcome whoever alludes to the Genocide against Tutsi as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’.
“It is not unusual. Most of these young people didn’t lose parents or relatives during that time. They don’t remember anyone who hunted or chased them out of their houses,” she observed.
“Unable to remain silent, they come here on Twitter to ridicule survivors of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. Between April and July 1994, a genocide was perpetrated against one ethnic group: Tutsi. It is indubitable,” added Ujeneza.
The genocide was planned for long that politicians against the then Government’s cruelty were assassinated.
“Hutus from different categories had heavy responsibility during the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi. These include intellectuals, public servants, business people, teachers, believers, soldiers, members of Gendarmerie [Rwanda’s Policing unit during the pre-Genocide], men, women and children,” stressed Ujeneza.
The author went on to describe what she personally witnessed what happened during Genocide at the age of 13.
“I saw it with my own eyes. These perpetrators were the people we knew that turned into cruel monsters,” she noted.
“Tutsi in advanced ages in 1994 had experienced massacres and violence in the 1950s until 1960 and 1970s when they lost relatives, were deprived of land, livestock and other possessions. Such killings and violence were precursors of the execution of Genocide in 1994 that targeted one ethnic group. Tutsi. During that time, no one fled Rwanda because he/she was Hutu,” emphasized Ujeneza.
Considering the aforementioned eye witness, Ujeneza said that misinterpreting ‘Genocide against Tutsi’ as ‘Genocide in Rwanda’ is going beyond limits, undermining history which she also considers ‘an insult’.
“No one was killed for being Rwandan in 1994,” she stressed.
Rwanda is commemorating the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi for the 27th time. The commemoration began on 7th April with lighting the flame of hope at Kigali Genocide Memorial and later followed by talks held at Kigali Arena bringing together top Government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, Rwandans and friends of Rwanda.
The commemoration that lasts 100 days is taking place for second time during Coronavirus pandemic whereby talks are delivered virtually through mainstream media including televisions and radios as well as other social media platforms.
Over the years, people have been reported and arrested for threatening genocide survivors, uprooting their crops, stabbing their livestock or destroying their houses among other violent acts during commemoration period.
Among others, it has been observed that propagandists, roaming perpetrators and their supporters often use this time to spread genocide ideology, deny and trivialize the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi which continue to pain survivors who endured with both physical and psychological trauma.
It is a worrying situation that such propagandists intend to mislead people especially the youth considered the backbone of the national development and hold back the strides Rwanda has made in unity and reconciliation.
