An exhibition dubbed a “100 nights” was, on April 7, launched in Dakar to show the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi. This was as the Rwandan community along with friends of Rwanda in Senegal commemorated the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Mainly featuring pictures and text, the exhibition was launched at the Place du Souvenir Africain, a zone in the Senegalese capital where a commemorative inscription was placed in the past. The exhibition will enable a big number of Senegalese and foreigners who visit the place to get accurate information on the preparation and execution of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda. Hate Radio: Theatre play on RTLM’s role in 1994 Genocide comes to Kigali Rwandan clerics urged to pick lessons from past failures, use their position to foster unity The President of Ibuka in Senegal, Yves Rwogera Munana, briefly recounted the horror that the Tutsi went through during the genocide as the international community looked on and did nothing to help. Monique Usanase, a Genocide survivor from Nyakabanda, in Kigali, shared her testimony during the event. Munana also talked about the aftermath of the Genocide and how the survivors decided to not succumb to the sorrow that came their way as a result of the losses they had suffered. Rwanda’s ambassador to Senegal, Jean-Pierre Karabaranga, explained the painful and dark history of Rwanda since 1959 up to the 1994 Genocide when more than one million Rwandans died in 100 days from April 7, 1994, and that left the country completely destroyed, with the survivors of the genocide having physical and psychological wounds. He saluted the bravery of RPF solders who stopped the Genocide and liberated the country, and requested people to visit the exhibition that was launched to help them learn more about the Genocide against Tutsi. He requested everyone to fight against Genocide denial and negationism of the Genocide against Tutsi since there are Rwandans and foreigners who continue to spread genocide denial and negationism using social media platforms. Karabaranga acknowledged Senegalese soldiers who were in Rwanda during the Genocide, saying that though they were few, they tried to do something and even saved some people. An example of such soldiers is Captain Mbaye Diagne, who died in Rwanda during the Genocide. In 2016, the UN honoured him posthumously. He is believed to have saved between 600 and 1,000 Rwandans before he was killed on the morning of May 31, 1994. Captain Mbaye was a daring, humane officer – ex-colleague Senegalese General narrates his experience in Rwanda in 1994 UN official recounts interview with genocide perpetrator in Rwanda The government of Senegal was represented by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice in Charge of the Promotion of Human Rights and Good Governance, Mamadou Saliou Sow. Sow expressed the deep sympathy and brotherhood of Senegalese people to Rwandans during the period of the commemoration of the Genocide against Tutsi. He reaffirmed that Senegal will always make it its duty to stand with Rwandans because Senegal shares the same desire to restore the dignity of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi and preserve the collective memory. Sow paid homage to the Rwandan people as well as leaders, particularly to President Paul Kagame, for the substantial progress and the consolidation of the recorded tremendous achievements. He commended the tremendous achievements of Rwanda in all walks of life, especially in unity and national cohesion as well as economic development. Sow underlined that Rwanda has become a model of dynamism and politico-economic stability and plays a crucial role at continental and international levels. He emphasized that there will always be excellent collaboration between Rwanda and Senegal in finding solutions to challenges that the continent faces and contributing to Africa’s development and the well-being of all Africans.
