The Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana, has called on young people living near the Rwanda–DR Congo border to embrace patriotism, unity, and national values, and to actively resist the spread of genocide ideology—particularly on social media. He made the remarks on Thursday, 26th June, 2025, during a civic dialogue held in Rubavu District, which brought together hundreds of youth from Nyamasheke, Rutsiro, Ngororero, Nyabihu, and Rubavu. This dialogue session was part of Rubyiruko, Menya Amateka Yawe (Youth, Know Your History), a nationwide campaign aimed at educating youth about Rwanda’s past and strengthening their role in defending national unity and community resilience. Bizimana emphasized that the genocide against the Tutsi was the product of a long-term ethnic ideology introduced during colonial rule and intensified by local political actors. “The genocide against the Tutsi stemmed from an ethnic ideology that targeted the Tutsi, teaching one part of the population—the Hutu—that the country belonged to them alone. It portrayed Tutsi as foreigners and enemies of both the Hutu and the nation. This ideology began in 1956 with the creation of the Mouvement Social Muhutu (Muhutu Social Movement) association by Kayibanda. It was that association that became the PARMEHUTU political party in 1959,” Minister Bizimana explained. He underscored that this ideology was not native to Rwanda but introduced by Belgian colonialists through a divide-and-rule system aimed at dismantling pre-existing unity. “That divisionism was inherited from the colonialists who wanted to rule Rwanda for their own benefit. One of the key features of Rwanda’s unity before their arrival was the existence of one central leader—the King—who was king of all Rwandans and served everyone without discrimination. All citizens saw themselves in him and trusted him as a father figure.” That is why before colonization, there was never a time when one group of Rwandans rose up to kill another,” he noted. Defending truth in the digital age Minister Bizimana encouraged youth to be vigilant online, resist misinformation, and counter those who distort the truth about Rwanda’s history: “Be ready to confront those who twist Rwanda’s history, especially on social media. Refute hate speech, division, genocide denial, and minimization whenever you encounter them.” “Your age is ideal for patriotism, for serving your country, and for standing against genocide ideology. Fighting it is not easy—it even exists within some families. But with a strong love for your country and knowledge of its past, you can make the right choices and strengthen our national unity.” A leadership worth supporting Bizimana encouraged youth to appreciate and support Rwanda’s current leadership, which he described as the first since independence to truly promote unity: “Support the leadership of our country. For the first time since 1962, Rwanda has leaders who work for all citizens without discrimination. Vulnerable people receive health insurance, and those in dangerous areas are relocated. Follow this path—it leads to opportunity and development.” The Minister reiterated Rwanda’s readiness to reintegrate members of armed groups who choose peace: “Rwanda has only one government. There is no space for division. Tell those still in the bush to come home. Many have already returned and are living safely and productively.” Participants welcomed the Youth, Know Your History initiative. Dative Musabyimana, a 42-year-old ex-combatant and mother of eight, and Emerence Mugabekazi, 20, from Rubavu, called for broader outreach. “In Congo, we were told that if you cross into Rwanda, you’ll be killed,” Musabyimana said. “This kind of dialogue helps debunk such misinformation. More people should be part of it.” Vital Ringuyeneza, Executive Director of Vision Jeunesse Nouvelle, emphasized the importance of reaching youth in informal sectors: “Genocide ideology remains a threat in border communities. That’s why we are mobilizing youth, especially those outside formal education systems, to become informed defenders of national unity and peace.” The rationale behind this targeted approach stems from growing concerns identified by the Ministry: Some youth in districts bordering DR Congo have been lured into joining armed groups operating in eastern Congo, participating in activities that threaten Rwanda’s security and spreading hate speech and genocide ideology. Many out-of-school youth engaged in informal labor rarely get opportunities to engage in meaningful national dialogues on unity and resilience. They often lack platforms to reflect on their role in preserving Rwanda’s progress and confronting genocide denial and hate speech. These trends are partly driven by a lack of deep understanding of Rwanda’s history and the regional dynamics that led to the erosion of national unity. This Youth, Know Your History civic education campaign, therefore, aims to share knowledge about Rwanda’s history and the role of the region in shaping it; equip young people with the tools to refute genocide denial, historical distortion, and hate speech; promote truth, national unity, and resilience as pillars of Rwanda’s continued development; instill values of responsible citizenship and encourage youth to become active stewards of national achievements; and provide space for youth voices in evaluating current programs that strengthen national cohesion. The campaign focuses on youth because they make up the majority of Rwanda’s population. According to the 2022 census by the National Institute of Statistics, 65.3% of Rwandans are under the age of 30. As the Rubavu session came to a close, the Minister led participants in a unifying call that summed up the spirit of the campaign: “Unity and Resilience—My Choice!”
