Rwandans living in Senegal, friends of Rwanda, and members of the diplomatic corps there gathered at the Monument de la Renaissance Africaine in Dakar, Senegal, to celebrate the 29th anniversary of the liberation of Rwanda on Tuesday, July 4.
The event was marked by, among others, speeches highlighting Rwanda's achievements, the strong ties between Rwanda and Senegal, and the illumination of the African Renaissance Monument in the colors of Rwanda.
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The African Renaissance Monument is a 52-meter-tall bronze statue located on top of one of the twin hills known as Collines des Mamelles, outside Dakar.
Amb Jean Pierre Karabaranga, Rwanda’s envoy to Senegal, emphasized his country’s remarkable progress in various sectors over the past 29 years. He highlighted the investment opportunities available in Rwanda and the strengthened friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
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Samba Ndiobene Ka, Senegal’s Minister of Community Development, National Solidarity, Social and Territorial Equity, represented the Senegalese Government at the celebration. He paid tribute to the people of Rwanda and President Paul Kagame for the remarkable progress they achieved, which serves as an inspiration for all of Africa, particularly the youth.
Ndiobene Ka emphasized the historical ties between Rwanda and Senegal, highlighting the heroic figure of Captain Mbaye Diagne, a Senegalese officer who served as a UN peacekeeper in Rwanda in 1994.
Diagne is remembered to have displayed remarkable courage and selflessness, undertaking many missions on his own initiative to rescue people at risk of mass murder and eventually rescued more than 1,000 people. Diagne’s friend, Brig Gen El Hadji Babacar Faye, a retired Senegalese military officer who also served in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, attended the celebrations of the 29th anniversary of Rwanda’s liberation in Dakar, on Tuesday.
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According to Ndiobene Ka, his sacrifice and sense of honor during the 1994 Genocide symbolize the unity between the two nations. He also mentioned the new impetus in bilateral relations, exemplified by the opening of embassies in each other&039;s countries.