Rwanda has underscored the grave risks associated with the proliferation of hatred and disunity, emphasizing the perilous potential for genocide akin to the tragedy it endured over three decades ago, claiming the lives of a million individuals within a span of a hundred days.
Speaking at the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Abuja, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Christophe Bazivamo, emphasized the imperative of remaining vigilant on the path to enduring peace.
He stressed, “As we embark on a process of renewal, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to combat intolerance, discrimination, ethnic animosity, hate speech, genocide revisionism, and denial in all their manifestations. Regrettably, these issues persist in the Great Lakes region, adjacent to Rwanda’s borders. It is imperative that we prevent the resurgence of animosity.”
Furthermore, Bazivamo articulated, “On this Kwibuka 30, collective efforts are essential to ensure that the memory of the victims serves as a potent catalyst for positive change, inspiring forthcoming generations to prioritize peace over animosity, unity over fragmentation, and optimism over despondency. This necessitates various measures, including integrating lessons on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi into educational curricula and erecting commemorative monuments to educate the youth and future generations about the imperative of combating ideologies of hate and standing against all forms of discrimination and divisiveness. Let us collaborate in constructing a world where such atrocities remain consigned to history.”
Conveying the Nigerian government’s condolences to the survivors of the genocide, Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf Tuggar, represented by former Ambassador to Sudan Safiu Olaniyan, declared, “Genocide must never be permitted to resurface.”
Echoing these sentiments, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged global solidarity against all manifestations of hatred and discrimination. Guterres, whose address was delivered by UN Resident Coordinator in Nigeria Mohamed Malick Fall, emphasized, “To those who propagate division, we must convey a resolute, unequivocal, and urgent message: never again. The tragic loss of a million Tutsi lives, alongside some Hutu and other dissenters, underscores the dire consequences of decades of inflammatory rhetoric, exacerbated by ethnic tensions and the enduring legacy of colonialism. Presently, across the globe, we witness the resurgence of humanity’s darkest impulses through extremist ideologies, divisiveness, and hate speech. On this somber day of remembrance, let us pledge to stand united against all forms of hatred and discrimination.”
In his reflections, retired Nigerian Navy Admiral Samuel Alade, who bore witness to the genocide in Rwanda, commended the resilience and dedication of the Rwandan people in forging a nation emblematic of resilience and relevance.
