{{The African Union-United Nations Joint Special Representative/Joint Chief Mediator, Mohamed Ibn Chambas has said that Rwandans should be proud of their country’s reconstruction success after the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s.}}
The UNAMID head was speaking to IGIHE today in an exclusive phone interview shortly before addressing an audience of peacekeeping forces in Darfur gathered for the 20th commemoration of the Genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s that claimed over a million lives in April 1994 in Rwanda.
Mr. Chambas said never again should such atrocities happen anywhere in the world; “The international community learnt allot from the Rwandan situation and this triggered a timely responce in Sudan to avert genocide in Darfur region. UNAMID provides protection to civilians and has been pressing for a sustainable peace agreement between conflicting parties.”
{Below is an excerpt of the interview;}
IGIHE: {{The UN peacekeeping force has been accused of failing to protect ethnic Tutsi in Rwanda during the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. How effective has UNAMID been to protecting Darfur people from ethnic cleansing.?}}
{{UNAMID Head, Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas}}: The international community admitted its failure to protect ethnic Tutsi in Rwanda during the 1994 Tutsi Genocide. However, allot of lessons were learnt and Never Again should such mayhem happen anywhere in the world. This is why there was a timely intervention in Darfur region of Sudan.
A Significant UNAMID peacekeeping force with a mandate to protect civilian population has since been deployed in Darfur.The force maintains daily patrols in the region to ensure safety for civilian population. The force also guards around Internally Displaced Peoples Camps (IDPs).
IGIHE: {{UNAMID Mission deadline: Do you think the mission will achieve its set goals before the deadline is reached or there might be an extension of this deadline?}}
{{Mr.Chambas}}:The Peacekeeping Mission looks towards ensuring that a sustainable peace Agreement between warring parties is achieved but this has not been achieved at the moment.
In our mandate we are also providing protection to the civilian population.
IGIHE:{{ As Rwandan’s prepare for the 20th commemoration of Genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s, what message do you send out to the youth and survivors?}}
{{Mr. Chambas}}:The world has not forgotten about what happened in 1994 in Rwanda. The international community learnt from Rwanda and never again should any such happen.
Rwanda’s reconstruction success after the 1994 genocide against ethnic Tutsi’s should be a source of pride.
IGIHE: {{Will you describe the working experience of having Rwanda Army contributing to a UN peacekeeping force like UNAMID?}}
{{Mr. Chambas}}: Right now am going to address an audience of peacekeepers and I will give credit to the Rwanda Defence Forces for proving to be resilient. They have strong men and women that are dedicated to bringing peace in Africa.
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