As part of 27th commemoration of 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans living different countries of West Africa on Saturday, June 27, met virtually to commemorate youth who were killed during Genocide. The event was organized by the Rwandan embassy in Senegal and it brought together participants including the youth, researchers, academics and artistes among others from Rwanda, Senegal, Mali, Gambia, Cabo Verde and Guinea Bissau participated. Jean-Pierre Karabaranga, Rwanda’s Ambassador in Senegal and accredited to different West African countries reiterated that remembering the youth who were killed during Genocide is a way of rallying the new generation to join the fight against Genocide denial. “Seeing the youth from different countries participating in the commemoration activity is a gesture of their commitment to fight at all cost those who deny the Genocide. It is also a commitment to ensure genocide never happens again elsewhere in the world,” he said. Jean-Damascėne Gasanabo, the Director of Research and Documentation at National Commission for the Fight against Genocide explained how the Genocide in which over one million Tutsi was planned and executed, starting with sowing divisionism amongst Rwandans. “Any failure to counter genocide denial creates space for deniers who are still hell bent to finishing from where they left 27 years ago. They must be fought vigorously,” Gasanabo said. He urged the youth to embrace the culture of read through which they will be able to understand the genocide history, saying that this will put them in the right position to counter deniers, with facts. Charles Habonimana, the Managing Director of Rwanda Airports Company (RAC), who previously headed the association of former student survivors of the Genocide (GAERG), reiterated that writing is a tool to preserve genocide history and help in fighting genocide denial. “Books that also document survivors’ testimonies will enable future generations to understand 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, how it was planned and executed and strive to ensure it never happens again,” he said. Habonimana himself wrote a book ‘Moi, le dernier Tutsi’ (me, the last Tutsi) in which he narrates his miraculous survival of the Genocide. Thierry Uwizeye is a Rwandan living in Cabo Verde who left Rwanda at 2 years old in 1994 and recently came back to visit the country after 27 years genocide having happened. He said that after visiting Kigali Genocide Memorial and Campaign against Genocide Museum, he managed to understand 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Uwizeye urged other Rwandans, especially youth in Diaspora to learn lessons from history and fight for unity to build a brighter future. Yolande Mukagasana, writer and Genocide survivor reiterated that 1994 genocide against the Tutsi should be a lesson Africa and the entire world. She said that youth were a big part of genocide perpetrators due to genocide ideology they were taught adding that youth should learn from young people who joined RPF-Inkotannyi to liberate the country and stop genocide.
