Over 100 people on Monday, April 24 gathered in Liberia to pay tribute to victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in an event that was predominantly attended by the Rwandan community in the west African country. Among the attendants included senior Liberian government officials, the United Nations family in Liberia, members of the diplomatic corps and faculty leaders of the University of Liberia, among others. They were also joined virtually by the leadership of the High Commission of Rwanda in Ghana who is also accredited to Liberia as well as officials from the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement. The event was the first of its kind to be held in Liberia to honour the over one million victims of the genocide against the Tutsi, a function which also acknowledged the resilience of survivors. The Liberian government was represented at the event by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, Jr. who hailed Rwanda for keeping alive the memory of victims of the genocide and for the effort towards building an equitable and prosperous country that only 29 years later, inspires many. In the remarks of the acting Charge d’Affaires of the Rwandan High Commission in Ghana, Theophile Rurangwa called upon leaders and participants at the event to fight against impunity and genocide denial. He said: “We must commit to ensuring that justice is served by bringing to book all fugitives who planned and implemented the Genocide against the Tutsi, many of whom are still shielded by some countries”. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia Amb. Christine N. Umutoni read the message of the United Nations Secretary General delivered on April 7, on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In addition to these messages, a specific presentation on the history and facts about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi was delivered by Anita Kayirangwa from the Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement. Speaking at the event, was Jean Claude Mugabe, a survivor of the genocide who was only 8 years old at the time the genocide unfolded. Mugabe shared his testimony during the genocide and how he narrowly survived death. The event also featured a vibrant panel discussion on “hate speech as a weapon of conflict”. Panelists reminisced how media in Rwanda was used as a tool to progress the agenda of genocide through hate speech and advocated for prevention of hate speech everywhere. Panelists were selected from a cross-section of leaders of International Organizations, the UN, senior government officials, civil society organizations and academia in Liberia Participants at the first-ever event to commemorate the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi to be held in Liberia admitted to having learned a lot about the truth of what transpired in Rwanda 29 years ago and committed themselves to the fight against denial and to the prevention of the recurrence of such atrocities elsewhere.
