7th April marks 31 years since the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda; a moment of collective remembrance observed across the globe.
Across Rwandan Diplomatic Missions and global capitals, memorial services brought together officials, members of the diplomatic corps, friends of Rwanda, and the Rwandan diaspora.
In Abu Dhabi, Rwandan Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. John Mirenge, was joined by H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot Bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State in the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and over 400 attendees to honor the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
"We honour those that were brutally taken during the genocide against the Tutsi. Over one million souls lost their lives in 1994. We must remember, for these were not just numbers. Each life lost was someone with dreams, ambitions, and a future.
We also stand together in support of the survivors, to whom we feel deeply indebted and grateful. Despite unimaginable horrors and losses, they chose forgiveness and helped lay the foundation for our unity and reconciliation,” said Ambassador John Mirenge.
The Ambassador also reflected on enablers of Rwanda’s renewal.
“Rwanda has chosen the path of unity and resilience, building our new nation on three main pillars of 'unity, accountability and thinking big.' Our efforts in reconciliation, rebuilding, and national unity have indeed paid off. Today, Rwanda stands as a beacon of hope and prosperity.”
In his remarks, H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot expressed solidarity with Rwanda and commended its unity and reconciliation as a global example." We are with survivors who continue to carry the weight of unspeakable trauma. We stand with them in remembrance, sympathy, and solidarity. The values of unity and reconciliation which have guided Rwanda’s remarkable recovery serve as a powerful example for us all."
No Accident: The Genocide Against the Tutsi
Ambassador Mirenge explained that the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda from April to July 1994 was the culmination of decades-long, ethnic-based hate, and an ideology of division instigated, taught, and spread since the colonial period in Rwanda by the colonial administrations and Catholic missionaries.
This was emulated by the initial political elite that led Rwanda, who built their policies on ethnic division and hatred against the Tutsi. This led to unpunished killings and massacres of Tutsis between 1959–1963 under the supervision of Belgian military officers.
Ethnic division, marginalisation, and the persecution of the Tutsi marked the post-independence successive administrations. In turn, instilling a culture of impunity and enabling the deep-rooted hatred that led to the planning and execution of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The Genocide against the Tutsi was further planned and institutionalised under President Habyarimana’s administration, spearheaded by his ruling party, and its affiliate extremist parties under the coalition of Hutu Power between 1990 and 1994—a period marked by systematic killings of Tutsis by Hutu extremist militias mobilised by local leaders and encouraged by state-sponsored media propaganda.
After the defeat of the genocidal regime, many of the perpetrators fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo, amongst other neighbouring countries.
Armed groups such as the FDLR, remains active in the eastern DRC today.
The FDLR also spread anti-Tutsi ideology in eastern DRC, contributing to the killing of Congolese Tutsis of Rwandan origin and forcing thousands to flee.
According to Rwandan officials, the persecution of the Kinyarwanda-speaking Congolese preempted armed groups, such as M23, to take up arms to defend their rights.
Genocide Ideology: A Global Challenge
This year, however, the commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi takes place while genocide ideology and hate speech continue to be global concerns.
This is why Ambassador Mirenge urged the international community to fully commit to Never Again.
“We carry the solemn responsibility of preserving our history, safeguarding the progress we have made, and ensuring that the horrors of the past never return. As a global community, we must stand united in rejecting genocide denial, holding accountable those responsible, and ensuring that justice prevails. Only through truth, justice, and remembrance can we truly honour genocide victims and protect future generations,” he said.
Kigali’s Ongoing Reckoning with Brussels
Fast forward to the twenty-first century, and Kigali’s relationship with its former coloniser, Belgium, remains deeply fractured.
Former Belgian officials have publicly apologised for their role in the Rwandan genocide.
Whilst Brussels openly supports Kinshasa, Rwanda condemns the side-taking by Belgium, leading to the recent breakoff in diplomatic relations.
In addressing the conflict in eastern DRC, international partners—including those in the West—should engage in good faith focusing on the root causes of genocide and support initiatives aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution the Great Lakes region urgently needs.
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