Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva has called on Rwandans, particularly the youth, to promote unity and remain vigilant against genocide ideology, as he attended the 32nd commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Ngororero District on Friday, April 10.
Speaking during the commemoration event, Nsengiyumva conveyed condolences to survivors and families of victims, while emphasizing the country’s continued commitment to remembrance, unity, and resilience.
He commended local leaders and institutions for organizing the commemoration and paid tribute to Apollinaire Rurangwa, a survivor whose testimony highlighted the pain endured during the 1994 atrocities.
The Prime Minister underscored that remembering the Genocide against the Tutsi is but a national responsibility.
"The Genocide against the Tutsi was planned. It was the result of bad governance that entrenched division, hatred, and discrimination among Rwandans,” he said.
Ngororero’s painful legacy
Nsengiyumva reflected on Ngororero’s particular history in the planning and execution of the genocide, recalling the infamous 1992 speech by Léon Mugesera at Kabaya, which incited violence against Tutsi.
He also referenced the atrocities committed at Nyange Parish by Athanase Seromba, a priest who was later convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
At the same time, the Prime Minister praised the courage of students from Nyange Secondary School who, during a 1997 attack by infiltrators, refused to be divided along ethnic lines and declared themselves Rwandans, an act that cost some of them their lives.
"They are a powerful example of unity and courage that all Rwandans, especially the youth, should emulate,” he said.
Fighting denial, preserving unity
Nsengiyumva warned against ongoing genocide denial and the spread of divisive ideology, particularly in the region, noting that such threats persist despite Rwanda’s progress.
He reiterated the country’s firm stance that genocide will never happen again, stressing that unity and good governance remain central to Rwanda’s recovery journey.
The Prime Minister also urged young people to take an active role in confronting genocide ideology, especially on social media, and called on parents and leaders to pass on the true history and values that promote unity.
As Rwanda continues the 100 days of remembrance, Nsengiyumva emphasized that Kwibuka is both a time to honor victims and renew a collective commitment to safeguarding unity.
"Remembering is a promise, to restore dignity to those we lost and to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s continued support to survivors and urging all Rwandans to remain steadfast in building a united and resilient nation.
IBUKA highlights early killings in Ngororero
The representation of IBUKA, Annoncée Manirarora, said Ngororero’s history of violence dates back to the early 1990s, making it one of the areas where persecution of Tutsi began before April 1994.
She noted that killings were recorded as early as October 1990 in Kibilira, where Tutsi were murdered, followed by further attacks in 1992 and subsequent years in communes such as Satinsyi, Ramba, and Gaseke.
According to her, inflammatory rhetoric, including Mugesera’s speech, further fueled the violence that later escalated into the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Mayor calls for dignity for victims
Ngororero District Mayor, Christophe Nkusi, said the district lost more than 57,000 Tutsi during the genocide, whose remains are laid to rest across seven memorial sites.
He noted that killings in the area began as early as 1990, with Tutsi facing persecution and death in various locations, including those who had sought refuge in what was believed to be safe spaces.
Nkusi expressed concern that some victims’ remains are yet to be recovered and urged residents to come forward with information.
"Providing information on the whereabouts of the remains Genocide victims allows for a dignified burial and helps their relatives to heal,” he said.