The Rwandan Diaspora in Burundi together with friends of Rwanda gathered on Monday to celebrate the 17th anniversary of Rwanda’s Liberation.

According to a statement from the Rwandan Embassy in Burundi, the ceremony attracted several high ranking government officials from Burundi.

Among the guests were Burundian Ministers; Edouard Nduwimana (Interior), Ancille Ntakaburimvo (Justice), Gen. Pontien Gaciyubwenge, (Defence), and the Ombudsman, Mohammed Rukara.

The ceremony was also attended by several ambassadors and diplomats accredited to Burundi.

"The Chargé d’Affaires, Desiré Nyaruhirira highlighted the country’s achievements in various domains including, security, development, cooperation and good health of Rwandans 17 years after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi,” reads the statement.

He called on Rwandans in Burundi to preserve their dignity, cohesion among themselves and emphasised the theme of this year’s liberation day: ‘Shaping our Dignity’.

"Liberation is not only for Rwanda but also for the region, the continent and even the whole world. That is why Rwanda has taken an important decision to intervene in peacekeeping in other parts of the world, to help other people recover peace and security,” Nyaruhirira is quoted as saying.

He added that liberation is a long journey to overcome. That is why despite the remarkable progress registered, many things still have to be done because it is a continuous process.

The ceremony was celebrated with traditional dances and screening of a documentary on the RDF peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.

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