Thirty years after Genocide: Rwandans are still striving to rebuild country and restore their nation unity

It is now 30 years since the gruesome mass murder of nearly 1 million people of Rwanda in the infamous 1994 Genocide.

The country is organizing major memorial events and the Arusha-based International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals seem to be also setting out to Kigali for the commemoration.

On the other hand the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat is also organizing a similar memorial event in Arusha City.

Rwanda has been working hard to put the past in the rear view mirror cruising onto a better, safer and united future as a nation as it being showcased in a series of tribute events around the region.

Meanwhile three Principles from the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), including President Graciela Gatti Santana, Prosecutor Serge Brammertz and Registrar Abubacarr M. Tambadou, are reportedly visiting the Republic of Rwanda.

A statement from the Tribunal reveals that the main purpose of this visit is the Mechanism Principals’ attendance at a solemn ceremony of remembrance to mark the thirtieth commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (Kwibuka30).

The event will be initiated in Kigali from Sunday, 7 April 2024 forthwith.

Rwandan Head of State, President Paul Kagame, and other senior officials from the Kigali government get to grace the occasion and deliver remarks during the ceremony.

“In anticipation of this solemn event, all three Mechanism Principals wish to convey their utmost respect for the victims and survivors of these atrocities,” reads part of the statement.

The mechanism added that the people of Rwanda must be lauded for their resilience and unwavering efforts plus dedication to rebuild their country and nation.

“These are people who rebuilt their nation and continue making progress in achieving forgiveness and restoring inter-ethnic relations.”

“The Mechanism would also like to reiterate on this occasion its steadfast commitment to ensuring that the judicial findings of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Mechanism about the Genocide are widely accessible and are utilised in the fight against the divisive phenomenon of genocide denial, as well as in assisting the delivery of justice before national courts.”

Prior to the main commemorative event, the President and the Registrar of the Mechanism managed to attend a conference bringing together Rwandan and international lawyers, activists and others to discuss the duty to protect the truth and fight denial.

The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean‑Damascène Bizimana, officially opened the event.

Following the Genocide of 1994, the United Nations established an International Criminal Tribunal (ICTR) in Tanzania to try the suspects of the atrocities.

The court was located within the Arusha International Conference Center (AICC) complex.