“For decades, Rwanda was shaped by a deliberate system of exclusion, fear, and division. The purpose of the liberation struggle was to restore what had been taken away: the right of Rwandans to live in dignity.
However, the ideas behind the genocide have not disappeared completely. They persist in different forms, and remain present across our region. We have seen, and suffered too much to ever take this threat lightly.
Security and good governance are the foundation of everything we have built. Security is a matter of survival, not external approval. Without it, nothing else holds together. That is why we remain vigilant and firm.
What happened here will never happen again, for one simple reason: we will not allow it.”President Kagame | #Kwibohora32
This evening, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame joined thousands of Rwandan youth for the annual Walk to Remember and Night Vigil at BK Arena, as part of the #Kwibuka32 remembrance activities, where young Rwandans stand together to uphold the memory of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
“Kwibuka carries profound meaning for our nation. It is how we confront and overcome the divisions that nearly destroyed us. This day empowers us all.
We draw on the strength of survivors, who provide the reservoir of humanity that feeds our nation’s soul. To all survivors, know that you are not alone. We stand with you always.
Everything we have achieved, was only possible, because all Rwandans decided to join hands in common purpose. We honour the role played by every Rwandan, in our country’s rebirth.” President Kagame | #Kwibuka32
Today, the Nation of Rwanda commemorate the 32nd year to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. My heart and soul are with you, all my Rwandan friends and colleagues, by remembering the victims and our loved ones.
Remember. Unite. Renew
#Kwibuka32
I held two conversations this week with President Ramaphosa on the situation in Eastern DRC, including earlier today. What has been said about these conversations in the media by South African officials and President Ramaphosa himself contains a lot of distortion, deliberate attacks, and even lies. If words can change so much from a conversation to a public statement, it says a lot about how these very important issues are being managed.
A few important clarifications for the record:
1. The Rwanda Defence Force is an army, not a militia.
2. SAMIDRC is not a peacekeeping force, and it has no place in this situation. It was authorized by SADC as a belligerent force engaging in offensive combat operations to help the DRC Government fight against its own people, working alongside genocidal armed groups like FDLR which target Rwanda, while also threatening to take the war to Rwanda itself.
3. SAMIDRC displaced a true peacekeeping force, the East African Community Regional Force, and this contributed to the failure of the negotiation processes.
4. President Ramaphosa has never given a "warning" of any kind, unless it was delivered in his local language which I do not understand. He did ask for support to ensure the South African force has adequate electricity, food and water, which we shall help communicate.
5. President Ramaphosa confirmed to me that M23 did not kill the soldiers from South Africa, FARDC did.
6. If South Africa wants to contribute to peaceful solutions, that is well and good, but South Africa is in no position to take on the role of a peacemaker or mediator. And if South Africa prefers confrontation, Rwanda will deal with the matter in that context any day.