Rwanda reaffirms continued collaboration with various UN agencies to ensure the development of its people as well as peace and progress globally, said Vincent Biruta, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He made the remarks during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of Rwanda in the United Nations under the theme “Partnering for a better, shared future for all” on October 24. On the same day, the world marks 77 years since the UN came into force after the ratification of the UN charter. The celebration was attended by different government officials, representatives of UN agencies in Rwanda, diplomatic corps, and the private sector. “Despite the difficult circumstances, we have learnt from the past and chosen to focus on the future and the good we can accomplish cooperating actively as members of the international community,” said Biruta. While the long planned Genocide against the Tutsi unfolded as the international community passively watched, the country will continue to work together with the UN to restore the historical truths, he emphasised. He also reaffirmed Rwanda’s active role in addressing common challenges including gender equality, refugees’ rights protection, climate change, and more. Maxwell Gomera, UNDP Rwanda Resident Representative, said that while the International Community failed Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, it holds the national transformation and resilience of survivors in high regards. “Your country offers an example of how countries can act in a coordinated and collective fashion, with greater sense of urgency towards achieving our global goals,” he said. Gomera explained that it is with collective action that governments can resolve global problems and achieve global self-interests while also sustainably driving national economic transformation. The celebration also featured panel discussions that reflected on Rwanda's development trajectory and its contribution to UN peacekeeping and peace building efforts. Up to now, Rwanda has contributed 73,569 military personnel in different UN peacekeeping missions in different countries. Mbaranga Gasarabwe, Former Deputy Special Representative of Secretary-General to MINUSMA, said that Rwanda's uniqueness in peacekeeping is rooted in values of finding inner solutions that tackle root causes of conflicts as well as consistency in implementing peace policies. Rwanda was admitted as a member to the UN on September 18, 1962 following the adoption of Security Council resolution. Within 60 years, Rwanda has partnered with the UN across a broad range of thematic areas that have contributed to the social, political, and economic transformation of the country.
