After Rwanda's liberation and the end of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, stopped by the RPF-Inkotanyi, the country began a journey of healing and renewal. Thousands of Rwandans who had lived in exile since 1959 started returning home, having spent 35 long years yearning to reclaim their citizenship and contribute in building the nation they had been forced to leave behind. It was during this powerful time of transformation and hope that I was born, in October, a month that holds deep meaning for Rwandans as we honor and celebrate our love for our country. Like many mothers during that period of national rebirth, mine gave birth not only to a child, but to a symbol of a new beginning in a land rising from its darkest chapter. As we remember the victims of the Genocide for the 31st time, I am also turning 31 this October. Rwanda and I have grown together, almost like twins. I have seen my country rise from pain and division to peace and development. I have seen the power of unity, strong leadership, and working together with a shared vision. When I was a child, I did not fully understand what happened in 1994. We heard about the genocide on the radio and followed the commemoration activities on television and in the community. Later, in school, we studied it in history. I began to understand more when we visited places where reconciliation took place. I remember seeing a twin house with one part for a Genocide survivor and the other part for someone who had taken part in the killings. As children, we could not believe such a thing was possible. How could people live together again after so much pain? But as I grew up, I joined peacebuilding programmes. I learned more about the roots of our country’s division, the great loss we suffered, and the incredible work done to bring people back together. Today, I can say that unity and reconciliation are some of Rwanda’s biggest achievements. This is something the whole world can learn from us. After the Genocide, many people were broken, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our generation grew up with that pain. Some of us never got to meet family members who were killed. Others had relatives in prison for their role in the Genocide. At school, there were children from families of both survivors and perpetrators. Sadly, some children learned hatred from their families. But thanks to education and government efforts, many learned a better way, about peace, forgiveness, and building a united Rwanda. Despite the significant efforts made and the tremendous progress achieved in rebuilding our country, we continue to face challenges from hate propagandists and those who oppose our national vision for various reasons. Lately, I’ve spent considerable time trying to understand why some Rwandans, especially on social media, choose to spread false narratives about our country, celebrate the imposition of sanctions, and even call for more. What’s even more troubling is seeing them openly support foreign powers, such as Belgium that have historically and immensely destroyed our country and the region for over a century. In trying to make sense of this behaviour, I took the time to look into the individuals behind these actions. What I discovered is revealing: Most of them are either directly linked to those who planned and executed the Genocide, or they are their children and relatives who continue to carry forward that tragic legacy. Others are people who committed crimes and fled justice. Some are former public servants who, having failed to prioritize the collective good or to uphold accountability, chose to abandon the country when their personal ambitions were no longer served. These people often seek refuge in countries that have a vested interest in undermining our progress. There, they receive protection and support as they work to tarnish Rwanda’s image and disrupt the forward path we have chosen as a nation. But no matter what they say or do, Rwanda has changed for the better. I know this because I have lived it. I have witnessed the progress. I have seen the unity. I have seen how far we have come. I know that my generation will not forget the price our parents paid. We will protect what has been built. We will not allow Rwanda to return to darkness. We know what hate and division cost us, and we want a better future for our children. We do not want our children to endure what our elders and ancestors went through. We have chosen the path of peace and unity. With everyone’s consideration and contribution, Rwanda will continue to shine ever brighter. This is the story and journey of Rwanda. It's us in a better Rwanda, today and tomorrow. No more sorrow.
