JUBA – It has been 32 years since a devastating genocide resulted in the deaths of more than one million people and divided the country of Rwanda.
“An entire nation was shattered in a matter of weeks. Communities were destroyed and humanity tested at its very core,” remembered Rwandan Ambassador, Joseph Rutabana.
To honor the victims and reflect on the profound impact of these events nationally and internationally, the Rwandan community and the country’s peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) joined other participants at commemorative events across the country.
Together, they remembered what Ambassador Rutabana described as “one of the gravest of crimes not just defined by violence but intent” as well as the measures needed for a nation to overcome such a grim past.
In the case of the ‘fastest genocide in history’ as it is often referred to, those measures included the intervention of opposition forces and the international community as well as a national population and government committed to a powerful, shared vision of unity and peace.
“Our country was at a decisive moment. We had to choose between resilience and a different path. Guided by the resilience of our communities, our leaders chose unity over conflict,” explained Ambassador Rutabana.
Considering the deteriorating political and security situation in South Sudan, Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, James Kimonyo, emphasized the relevance of these reflections beyond Rwanda.
“South Sudan can learn, through the determination of the Rwandese, how to build a stronger nation and progress guided by peace, unity and reconciliation.”
The aftermath of the violence in Rwanda exposed not only deeply rooted trauma but also a lack of trust in each other as well as national institutions.
To foster reconciliation, the new ‘Ministry of Unity’ fostered grassroot initiatives that developed solutions to reconnect deeply divided communities. Slowly, trust was rebuilt and communities started to reconcile despite the horrors they had endured.
“Today Rwanda stands as testimony to what is possible when a nation chooses to encounter its past with honesty and courage,” highlighted Ambassador Rutabana.
UNMISS’ Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Political, Graham Maitland echoed those sentiments.
“Let us reflect, not only on the past, but also on our role in shaping a more peaceful and just future. Let us renew our commitment and stand against hate to uphold human dignity and to act individually and collectively whenever and wherever warning signs emerge.”
A reminder of the shared responsibility to prevent violence and build peace was also emphasized by UNMISS’ Head of the Wau Field Office, Anastasie Mukangarambe:
“Unless all of us work together, ‘never again’ will remain an unfulfilled promise.”
For the people of Rwanda, today marks the start of 100 days of remembrance. For the international community, it is a stark reminder and call to action to ensure that the atrocities of the past are never repeated.
By Jaella Brockmann
