On 7^th April 2021, Rwandan Community in China joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 27th Anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The event was conducted virtually due to precautions to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and among the attendees were officials from the government of People’s Republic of China, members of the diplomatic corps, as well as members of United Nations System and international organizations accredited in China.

On the behalf of the United Nations System in China, His Excellency, Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China honored the victims of the genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda and reflected on the suffering of those who survived.

He acknowledged Rwanda’s resilience saying that the country had become an international reference on how to rise and grow after the 1994 genocide. “Rwandans have demonstrated that it is possible to heal from strife and war. Rwanda has overcome its suffering and is now contributing to United Nations peacekeeping around the world,” he noted. 

In his remarks, the Permanent Representative of the African Union (AU) in China, His Excellency Rahamtalla M. Osman, noted that Africa will not rest to reflect the 1994 genocide that happened in Rwanda. 

“However, commemoration activities at the African Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa and in Beijing are being held under restrictions to fight the global pandemic, Africa will not rest to reflect and continue to fight against genocide, its ideology, denial and impunity to ensure that ‘Never Again’ shall Africa experience such heinous crime against humanity,” the envoy said. 

He made a case for the continent youth and new generations to learn from what happened in Rwanda, and ensure that it will never happen again. 

Rahamtalla called on international community to arrest the 1994 genocide fugitives. “The African Union encourage the continuation of collective efforts and cooperation of all AU Member States, the United Nations and the International Community for the arrest of the remaining fugitives that are still at large. Let us ensure justice is served for the victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi”. 

He applauded the government of Rwanda and people of Rwanda that made it possible to find home grown solutions to critical challenges that the country faced after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. 

The Embassy of Rwanda in China Chargé d'Affaires a.i, Mr. Virgile Rwanyagatare told the participants that remembering the victims is an act of love, empathy and restoration of their humanity and dignity. 

The memory of Genocide is one of the strongest tools to restore our nation’s spirit. “It is one of those key ingredients which have helped Rwanda to resist dismantling forces, but instead embark on a new journey of rebuilding itself as a new nation of peace and security, good governance and economic development,” Rwanyagatare said. 

D'Artagnan Habintwali, a survivor of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi gave testimony of his narrow survival in Butare town (currently in Huye district) in Southern Rwanda, at a time when the Tutsis were being hunted to be killed by Hutu militias.

“It is very important for us as humans, in general, to know that the world we have today is ours, but tomorrow it will not be ours, but rather it will be for our children. I think it is time to think about the legacy we want to leave behind,” he said. 

During the event, participants observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, and watched a short documentary film displaying the origin and execution of the Genocide against the Tutsi. 

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