The East African Community (EAC) in collaboration with the Arusha and Moshi Rwandan Community and the UN
Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (UN-MICT) have commemorated the 29th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi at EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The “Remember-Unite-Renew” commemoration was preceded by a ‘Walk to Remember’ and wreath-laying at the Memorial in the EAC Gardens in tribute to the more than one million lives lost to the gruesome extermination of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.
EAC Secretary General (Dr.) Peter Mathuki said that as the world celebrates its 29th anniversary, it was important to reaffirm the fundamental truth that all human beings are created equal, each with certain undeniable rights, including the right to life. that no one has the right to take it away, as happened 29 years ago from the innocent men and women of Rwanda.
However, Mathuki said that 29 years later, Rwanda has made tremendous progress that has exceeded expectations and should rightly be commended for that.
“In just 29 years, unity and reconciliation has been achieved in Rwanda,” said the secretary-general.
“’Never Again’ should not just be a slogan, but translated into concrete actions as we strive to be one people for one destination,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Arumeru District Commissioner, Ms. Emmanuella K. Mtatifikolo, representing the government of the United Republic of Tanzania, said the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda was a tragedy not only for Rwanda as a country, but for humanity as a whole.
“With the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda, all of humanity was tested and for once the sanity of human nature was seriously questioned,” she added.
Ms. Mtatifokolo went on to say that while these barbaric acts were being carried out in Rwanda, the whole world was well aware of such terrible events, but the international community did nothing to stop the killings where innocent men, women and children were brutally murdered. killed for no money. other than their ethnicity.
She therefore called on all citizens to make every effort to combat genocide ideology and revisionism in all their manifestations.
“I therefore call on the international community in general, and EAC countries in particular, to cooperate at various levels in the fight against all forms of genocidal ideology or any sign of it.
friendly,” she said.
The Judge-President of the East African Court of Justice (EACJ), Hon. Justice Nestor Kayobera, said the EACJ, as the judicial arm of the Community, is aware of the need for EAC partner states to learn lessons from the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda so that these events never happen again.
“As we commemorate, I hope we will all gain a better understanding of our shared humanity and renew our collective commitment to protecting and upholding fundamental human rights,” Judge Kayobera said.
The Rwandan High Commissioner to the United Republic of Tanzania, Amb. Major General Charles Karamba expressed his appreciation to the EAC, the UN Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals and all Friends of Rwanda for standing in solidarity with the Government and people of Rwanda in remembering loved ones who lost their lives in 1994.
amb. Maj Gen Karamba said it was during this period that Rwandans take time to reflect on where the country was in 1994, the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and where Rwanda is today.
“The country was completely devastated with no hope of recovery,” he said, adding that after 1994, the government of Rwanda faced enormous challenges in rebuilding a deeply divided country with a destroyed political, economic, social and legal infrastructure.
“There was a lot at stake and tough decisions were needed,” added Amb. General Karamba.
The High Commissioner informed the guests that over the past 29 years, Rwandans have chosen a very different path of resilience and courage needed to find solutions to their problems, rejecting the rotten politics of hatred and divisionism and thus bringing Rwanda out of the ashes. rebuild.
The President of the Rwandan Diaspora (Arusha and Moshi), Eng. Murenzi Daniel, informed the memorialists that after 1994 the Rwandan community abroad embarked on a journey of national reconstruction and promotion of peace and reconciliation with the support of the Government of Rwanda.
“Today, the Rwandan diaspora plays an integral role in uniting the Rwandans on board with a focus on nation building,” said Eng. Murenzi.
The event brought together a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives from various religious groups, Germany Cooperation in Arusha (GIZ), UN-MICT, and students from various universities and high schools in Arusha, and EAC staff.
