Rwandans and friends of Rwanda in the jurisdiction covered by Rwanda High Commission in India, together with their counterparts in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka, on July met in a virtual event to celebrate Liberation Day. In her remarks, Jacqueline Mukangira, the High Commissioner of Rwanda in India hailed the then Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) for their sacrificial role in liberating Rwanda. She also commended President Paul Kagame for leading the effort to “rebuilding a country with a long term vision anchored on a reconciled citizenry, the unity of the people, good governance and solid institutions.” Kagame was also the leader of the four-year liberation struggle. “The struggle sought the liberation of minds by instituting a Constitution that gives primacy to Rwandan spirit and Rwandan identity instead of the divisive and deadly so-called ethnicity which was the political pivot of the two past republics,” she said, referring to the 2003 Constitution. She said that the country’s growing socio-economic transformation is rooted deep in the inclusive political dispensation that was thought and implemented by the current government of unity. Rwanda, India ties The Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Vellamvelly Muraleedharan said Rwanda has forged a strong national identity and it’s today a country with a future. He commended the efforts that were made by Rwanda to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which was due to take place in June 2021, and regretted it was postponed due the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed his wishes for Rwanda to host the high-level meeting physically when life becomes normal again. Gupta Munish, the president of the newly approved India-Rwanda Friendship Association (IRFA) also attended the celebrations and congratulated President Kagame and the people of Rwanda for the 27th Liberation Day. He said there is a unique bond between Kagame and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has contributed to the growth to greater heights of the bilateral relations between India and Rwanda. The virtual celebration also saw remarks of Indian investors in Rwanda, Rudra Chatterjee of Luxmi Tea in the Western Province and Amit Chawla of Airtel Rwanda. They highlighted the ease of doing business in Rwanda and expressed their satisfaction of investing in Rwanda. India hosts a number of Rwandan students, and the attendees had time to hear young Rwandan students who were born after the 1994 Genocide deliver their messages of recognition to Rwanda’s freedom fighters.
