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Rwanda restates commitment in the fight against genocide in Africa

Mr Protogene Nsengumuremyi, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, has restated Rwanda’s commitment in the prevention and fight against genocide and other mass atrocities.
Protogene Nsengumuremyi

Protogene Nsengumuremyi

Mr Protogene Nsengumuremyi, the Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, has restated Rwanda’s commitment in the prevention and fight against genocide and other mass atrocities.
Nsengumuremyi made the remark on Saturday evening in Abuja during the double celebration of Rwanda’s 53rd Independence Day and the 21st Liberation Day.

He said that the Rwanda’s 53rd independence anniversary and 21st liberation day with the theme “’Prosperity in Dignity’’, was an appropriate time for Africans to reflect on how the country ended genocide.

“As Rwandans, this event is a great time to reflect on how Rwandans put an end to the killing machine of the genocidal regime, on our success story of reconciliation and nation building.

“It is also a time to look to the future with hope, optimism and a renewed commitment to our dignity and shared human values,’’ said the envoy.

He said that after the military liberation, Rwanda embarked on a total liberation and transformation of the country in all domains, including justice, unity, reconciliation, social and economy, among others.
Nsengumuremyi said that Rwanda had made good progress in that direction even though it took resilience and sacrifices of Rwandans to build a new Rwanda that everybody is celebrating.

He called on Africans to join efforts to make Africa a better place particularly by liberating African brothers and sisters who were deprived of their rights.

“I pledge total liberation for the whole Africa, our mother continent. Together, our future will definitely be brighter.
“It is a future with commitment to protect populations, to fight racism, and domination and exploitation of people by other peoples created in the same image of God,’’ Nsengumuremyi said.

On achieving greater heights in Africa, the envoy called on Africans to turn the dreams of their fathers into reality.
“It is time to act and empower doing business among the African countries by arranging all free and easy movement of people and goods across the continent.

“As Africans, is it fair that any internal conflict must be always discussed and deliberated outside the continent and sometimes without consulting the major concerned actors?’’ he asked.

Also speaking, Amb. Bulus Lolo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said an important aspect of the celebration was to focus on how best to honour those who lost their lives during the genocide.
Lolo, who was represented by Amb. Ozo Nwobu, Director of the Department of Public and Bilateral Affairs, said that it could be achieved through rededication to maintenance of peace.

On relation between Nigeria and Rwanda, the ambassador said that it was excellent especially because it was built on shared values of freedom and human dignity.

The scribe said that Nigeria was proud of the level of bilateral economic ties it has with Rwanda even though there were tremendous room for improvement.
“Nigeria looks forward to the expansion of our ties with Rwanda and especially to the activation and implementation of the already signed and bilateral agreements,’’ Lolo said.

He also said that Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to deepen and consolidate the strategic partnership with Rwanda which must strive assiduously for ensuring peace and stability in the region.

“ We must stand together in the fight against terrorism and extremism, unconstitutional and undemocratic governance, poverty, human right abuse and corruption,’’ he added.

Rwanda got independence on July 1, 1962, and liberation occurred July 4, 1994, when the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the then military wing of Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) took control of Kigali.
It defeated the genocidal forces and hence stopping the genocide against the Tutsi during which more than one million persons were killed within only 100 days. (NAN)

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