Kwibuka 31: Rwanda Urges Formidable Force Against Genocide Ideology….Honours Victims of 1994 Genocide.
By Ferdinand Olise
The Rwandan Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador
Christophe Bazivamo, says Rwanda remains unwavering in its commitment to combating genocide ideology and preventing future genocides, both at home, and globally.
Ambassador Bazivamo stated this in Abuja at the 31st Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (Kwibuka 31).
The commemoration which took place on April 7th 2025, was a solemn occasion, known as Kwibuka (“to remember” in Kinyarwanda). It serves as a global opportunity to honor the victims, comfort survivors, and pay tribute to Rwandans who stopped the genocide and liberated the country.
The event coincides with the national week of remembrance in Rwanda (April 7th-13th, 2025), featuring a national ceremony, a lecture for foreign diplomats and international organizations, youth engagement activities, a Walk to Remember, concluding with the tribute to the politicians killed for opposing the Genocide plan.
Speaking in Abuja at the commemoration, Ambassador Bazivamo, said Kwibuka, a Kinyarwanda word meaning to remember, is far more than a ritual of memory, but a national and global call to confront historical truth, uphold dignity, and fight genocide denial and revisionism.
“It is a time when Rwanda stands not in isolation, but with the world, with our brothers and sisters across Africa, and with friends here in Nigeria, to reaffirm that Never Again must be more than a slogan. It must be a guiding principle.
“The 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi did not erupt spontaneously. It was the tragic culmination of decades of ethnically motivated discrimination, nurtured over time by colonial systems and later sustained by post-independence regimes.
“Under colonial rule, our colonizer, Belgium, policies of social engineering introduced racial classifications and imposed hierarchies that systematically fractured Rwandan society. The role of certain missionary groups in entrenching these divisions is also part of our historical record.
The very seeds of the genocide were sown in this era of imposed division. These seeds were further cultivated by recurring cycles of violence, most notably including the unpunished killings of Tutsi people between 1959 and 1963.” He said.
Ambassador Bazivamo, emphasized that the absence of justice and accountability for these early atrocities, often referred to as the “First Republic massacres” and largely overlooked by the international community, served as ominous and tragic signs of the unimaginable horrors that laid ahead.
“In 1994, under the leadership of then-president Juvénal Habyarimana and his political party, the MRND (Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Développement), the Genocide against the Tutsi was systematically planned and carried out with the support of extremist militias and state institutions.
“Over the course of 100 days, ordinary citizens were incited by the political elite through hate propaganda and manipulated media to participate in the mass slaughter of over one million Tutsi. The genocide was only halted in July 1994 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi) succeeded in liberating the country and putting an end to the killings”. He explained.
He said, in the aftermath of the genocide, Rwanda was left devastated, socially fragmented, and deeply traumatized, noting that the scars of violence were not just physical, but emotional, as survivors struggled to heal while living alongside their killers.
“Despite the enormity of this challenge, Rwanda’s Government of National Unity led by H.E. Paul Kagame made a deliberate choice to prioritize reconciliation. The concept of “Ndi Umunyarwanda” (I am Rwandan) became central to the rebuilding process.
It emphasized a collective identity above ethnic lines, urging all Rwandans to see themselves as one people, united in their shared history and future. This spirit of unity formed the bedrock upon which Rwanda began its journey of healing and rebuilding”, he said.
He said, through community-based justice, processes such as the Gacaca Courts, and national initiatives for social cohesion, Rwanda has made significant strides in overcoming the divisions of the past, even though some challenges still persist.
“Today, Rwanda continues to face serious regional security challenges, particularly in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, where genocidal forces who fled Rwanda after 1994 remain active.
These genocidal forces have reconstituted themselves under new names— first as the Armée de Libération du Rwanda (ALIR) and subsequently as the Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Rwanda (FDLR)—continuing to spread hate and violence, particularly against Congolese Tutsi communities.
“Today, we are witnessing alarming hate speeches, dehumanizing propaganda, and calls for extermination—similar to the language used before 1994 in Rwanda. Thousands have been displaced, and yet, the international response remains dangerously muted.
We must not forget that Rwanda warned the world once before. The cost of ignoring hate is too great to bear again. This is not just Rwanda’s fight; it demands the urgent and concerted attention of the entire international community”. He said
According to Ambassador Bazivamo, the commemoration compels them to speak with clarity about the role of the international community, whose failure to act in 1994 cost more than one million lives.
“Today, as we observe growing instability in the region, Rwanda calls for a renewed commitment to the principles enshrined in the 1948 UN Genocide Convention and UN Security Council Resolution 2150. These instruments impose a moral, and legal obligation on all states to combat genocide ideology, judge or extradite genocide fugitives, and ensure that “Never Again” is not just a slogan, but a commitment.
We also note with concern the continued support for genocide denial and revisionism in certain quarters and countries.
These denialist groups spread revisionist narratives, and incite hatred, directly undermining Rwanda’s efforts to heal and rebuild”, he said.
He assured that Rwanda remains unwavering in its commitment to combating genocide ideology and preventing future genocides—both at home and globally.
“Our Never Again pledge is not mere rhetoric; it is a guiding principle that demands concrete action. As a nation that has rebuilt from devastation, we know that remembrance alone is not enough. We must challenge the forces of division, counter false narratives, and ensure that justice prevails”., he emphasized.
He therefore encourage all nations, policymakers, scholars, Journalists, civil society, and young people, to continue advancing the values of truth, peace, and justice so that future generations will live free from the shadows of hate.
He conveyed Rwanda’s gratitude for the solidarity of partners like the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose engagement on issues of peace, stability, and regional cooperation reflects their shared African aspirations.
He therefore assured that, as the lessons of the past are reflected upon, and committing to building a brighter future, Rwanda remains dedicated to working closely with Nigeria and all other African nations to build a peaceful and prosperous continent, one that rejects division and embraces unity.
He urged everyone to honour the memory of the victims with dignity and respect, and stand with survivors who continue to rebuild their lives with remarkable grace, resilience and determination. Also pledge to work together across borders and institutions to ensure that genocide and its ideology find no sanctuary, and no home in the world.
On his part, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Malick Fall, who was represented by the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs. Beatrice Eyong, expressed empathy on the million of children, women and men who were slaughtered in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
He said this appalling chapter in human history was not a spontaneous frenzy, or horrendous violence.
“It was intentional, pre-medicated, and planned, including through hate speech that inflate division and spread lies and dehumanization. The overwhelming majority of the victims were Tutsi, but also the Hutus, and others who opposed the genocide.
“As we recall how this time came about, we must also reflect on resonance with our own times. These are days of division, the narrative of “Us Versus Them” is ascendant, polarising the societies.
Digital technologies are further weaponized to inflict hate, and spread lies”, he said.
The UN Resident Coordinator therefore urged everyone to learn from the terrible history of the genocide in Rwanda, and act to stem the tide of hate speech, stop disunity, and discontent mutating into violence, uphold human rights, and ensure accountability.
“I urge all States to deliver on commitments made in the Global Digital Compact to tackle online falsehood and hate speech, to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, and to become parties to the Convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide without delay”, he added.
The Commemoration is a time for reflection on the lessons from the Rwanda’s tragic history, and to unite in efforts to combat genocide ideology, hate speech, and prevent future genocides.
The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Remember- Unite – Renew”, which underscores the importance of preserving the memory of the victims, strengthening national and international unity against genocide ideology, and renewing the collective resolve to build a future free from such atrocities.
