Today, 7^th April 2023, the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda in the People’s Republic of China was joined by officials from the government of China, diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations, and friends of Rwanda in China for the 29th commemoration of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (Kwibuka29).

During this event, Ambassador of Rwanda to China James Kimonyo underlined the importance of the commemoration and called upon the international community to bring to justice perpetrators and deniers of genocide.           

“It is therefore extremely important for all of us to work together in the fight against the denial of genocide and its ideology with the ultimate goal of making the whole world a peaceful place to live for this generation and generations to come,” the Ambassador noted.

The representative of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, Ms. Shi Shaojing, conveyed a solidarity message to the people of Rwanda and survivors in particular during this period of remembrance. She commended Rwanda’s determined effort made in the reconciliation process after 1994 genocide and reiterated China’s commitment to continue supporting Rwanda’s transformation journey.

“It is heartening that under the leadership of President Paul Kagame, the government and people of Rwanda have walked out of the shadow of history, achieved national reconciliation, and embarked on a development path that suits the country’s national conditions. Rwanda has thus maintained national stability and social harmony and achieved rapid economic growth.”

The United Nations Secretary General’s commemorative message was delivered by Mr. Stephen Bainous Kargbo, the Acting Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in China. The message emphasized on the journey of the Rwandan people towards healing, restoration, and reconciliation. He reminded the international community to remember what happened in Rwanda and stand firm to combat rising intolerance elsewhere.

“A generation since the genocide, we must never forget what happened and ensure future generations always remember.  How easily hate speech, a key indicator of the risk of genocide turns to hate crime,” part of the message reads

On his part, Ambassador Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman, the Permanent Representative of the African Union in China, reminded the audience the worst moments Rwandans passed through and hailed Rwanda’s reconciliation journey after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

 “Twenty-nine years later, Rwanda has learnt to forgive, but has not forgotten. Better, it got up with incredible courage to face the difficult challenges of reconciliation and reconstruction,” he noted.

Participants followed the testimony by Ms. Frida Umuhoza, the genocide survivor and author of “Frida: Chosen to Die, Destined to Live,” who shared her personal story.

Umuhoza, who was 14 narrated how her family was brutally killed. “My family and I were thrown in the same ditch and the murderers started killing one after another.  They hit me with a club on the head leaving me unconscious thinking I was dead but later on I was rescued and survived.”

This commemoration event was also marked by screening of a documentary, candle lighting and a poem titled ‘In the blink of an eye’ performed by Ishimwe Hope, Marebe Benitha and Ndahiro Germaine, Rwandan students from Alibaba Business School in Hangzhou who shared inspiring messages reflecting what Rwanda has passed through and how Rwandan youth should be equipped with the right education to fight the genocide ideology.

Within the next 100 days, the Rwandan Community in China will continue to conduct commemorative activities in different provinces and cities.

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