Most Liberation movements in Africa were against colonial rule or ideologically driven, but very few were against oppression by their own leadership. Uganda, the former Zaire – and off course Rwanda – quickly come to mind; where the people rise up, pick up arms and topple their oppressors. But the question that still baffles many; what pushes a country to arrive at a boiling point where people take matters into their own hands? The causes could be many,; from political bankruptcy, greed, shortsightedness or being willing pawns in geopolitical games that have nothing to do with them. For Rwanda’s case, it was an amalgamation of all the above, but it also had what other liberation struggles lacked; successive governments since independence promoted the ideology that eliminating a section of its population would make its problems go away. Whenever Rwandan leaders were confronted with problems – be they political or economic – they created a mass hysteria among the population and urged them to spill blood. It was this cycle of political madness that forced the Rwanda Patriotic Front to pick up arms. Rwanda’s internal problems had been ignored by the world for decades. Now the ball was in the people’s court. So, tomorrow as we celebrate the 22nd anniversary of our liberation, let us reflect on the sacrifices our youth made so that we could enjoy our achievements today as we continue to build our country. Our only show of appreciation for those who laid their lives on the ground is to continue on the path of unity and patriotism. Otherwise, they will have sacrificed their lives in vain.
