By Filled with contrasting emotions during the commemoration of the genocide that took place in 1994, the President of the East African country, Rwanda, H.E. Paul Kagame told dignitaries and heads of state from across the continent and international countries that Rwandans are filled with grief and gratitude in equal measure.
The President of South Africa, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa joined other heads of states from Africa and former states men from international countries including the former President of America H.E. Bill Clinton and the former first lady in Rwanda to commemorate the genocide that saw over 800 000 Tutsi minority ethnic group being killed over a 100 days period by the Hutu militia 30 years ago.
The country commemorated the deaths of the people by lying wreaths on the mass graves. Kagame said the country remembers those whose blood was spilled during the genocide and they are grateful for what the country has become today.
He further appealed to the survivors of the genocide to continue the heavy tusk of reconciliation.
“Today we are thinking of you as well, our tears flow inward but we carry on as a family. Rwandans also resisted the call to genocide; some paid the ultimate price for that courage and we honour their memory,” said President Kagame.
President Paul Kagame told the dignitaries and heads of states that Rwanda has had a difficult journey with lessons engraved in blood. The country’s vision and will to live together as one is what helped them come out the horrific situation they were in and build a country that is united as it is currently.
The President expressed his gratitude to the countries that helped them resolve their problems, naming Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and Tanzania for playing a crucial role in rebuilding Rwanda and ending the genocide.
“Most of the countries represented here also sent their sons and daughters to serve as peacekeepers in Rwanda. Those soldiers did not fail Rwanda, it was the international community which failed all of us, whether from contempt or cowardice,” said Kagame.
Kagame said New Zealand, Czech Republic and Nigeria had the courage to speak out and called the genocide by its name; he said the countries showed bravery by resisting pressure from more powerful countries to hide from the reality unfolding in Rwanda.
President Paul Kagame expressed his gratitude to the ambassadors of those countries who were present for their support. He said though governments were on the wrong side of policy in terms of the genocide, these countries always stood up for their honesty and humanity and spoke out against any wrong.
Over the past 30 years, Rwanda received support from Europe and the United States of America, Kagame said, however, a notable solidarity came from South Africa.
“As South Africa ended apartheid and elected Nelson Mandela president, in Rwanda, the last genocide of the 20th century was being carried out. The new South Africa paid for Cuban doctors to help us rebuild our shattered health system and opened up its universities to Rwandan students paying only local fees,” remarked the President Paul Kagame.
A mix of the beneficiaries enjoyed the opportunities presented by South Africa to Rwanda, according to the President, hundreds of the children who came to South Africa were children orphaned in the genocide, while others were children of the perpetrators and others were neither.
“Most of them have gone on to become leaders in our country in different fields; today they live a completely new life,” he said.
