Tazeen Akhtar with Cameraman Raja Ghulam Farid
ISLAMABAD: 08 April 2025 – The High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda in Pakistan held ‘Kwibuka 31, the commemoration of the 1994, genocide against the Tutsi ethnic people in her country before the independence. It was for the first time that the victims were remembered in Pakistan as the High Commission was opened only one year ago in Islamabad. One million innocent Tutsis were killed in one 100 long days,from 7 April to 19 July 1994 in civil war by Hutu militias of the Government.
The High Commissioner Ms Fatou Harerimana welcomed the guests who included the United Nation Resident Coordination, Mr. Mohamed Yahya, Additional Secretary MOFA Pakistan Hamid Asghar Khan, DG Africa at MOFA, Ahmad Ali Sarohi, Coordinator General COMSTECH Dr. Shabbir Chaudhary and many other gov officials.
Dean of Diplomatic Corp , Ambassador Turkmenistan Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador of Algeria, Bramin Romani, Ambassador Sudan, Salih Mohamed, Ambassador Bosnia, Emin Cohodarevic,DHM Palestine, Nader Alturk (Algeria,Sudan, Bosnia, Palestine also victims of Genocides & Mass Killings) also graced the event with their presence.
Ambassadors and DHM’s of Argentine,France, Ireland, Ethiopia,Kenya, Portugal, Myanmar, Spain, Sudan, Vietnam, Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, Defense Attaches of India, Bangladesh, African countries were also present.
The genocide was marked by extreme violence, with victims often murdered by neighbors, and widespread sexual violence, with between 250,000 and 500,000 women raped. In some cases Hutu husbands killed their Tutsi wives. The assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana on 6 April 1994 ignited the genocide, as Hutu extremists used the power vacuum to target Tutsi and moderate Hutu leaders.
The staff who himself survived the genocide shared the history with the guests through a comprehensive presentation. A photo exhibition was also arranged to apprise the participants about the atrocities in pictures.
High Commissioner , in her keynote address highlighted the tragic history when over a million people were killed by their fellow Rwandans because of the way they were born – a choice they did not make.
In 1994, Rwanda faced a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. The High Commissioner said the genocide against Tutsi was planned and carried out horrifyingly to leave nobody to tell the story. The perpetrators of the Genocide had decided to make it the end of the Tutsi.
For this reason,”we should never forget to respect the President of Rwanda, Paul KAGAME and the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) for their courageous decision to put an end to the Genocide against the Tutsi, a decision which was carried out and accomplished” she said.
She said that by now, the orphaned children have grown up, taken up leadership roles in a variety of institutions, joined the military, and has become the nation’s strength.
“Allow me to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the UN Residence coordinator here in Pakistan to join us and accept to deliver the remarks. We Rwandans do appreciate the decision of UN General Assembly adopting 7th April as an international day of commemoration of Genocide against the TUTSI in Rwanda.”
The theme of this year is “Remember- Unite-Renew’’is a global framework to honor the victims and comforts the survivors and pay tribute to Rwandans who stopped Genocide and liberate the country, she said.
She expressed her resolve as “We continue to serve the country with the same motto: NEVER AGAIN TO GENOCIDE IN RWANDA AND IN THE WORLD.”
The H.C shared that Rwanda now was one of the safest places in the world, and it extends its security to other countries as well. For example, the Rwandan Army has been effective in restoring peace in Mozambique, South Sudan, Central African Republic, and Haiti.
“We repeat this often, but it’s crucial. The Genocide against the Tutsi was planned for a long time and was motivated by a terrible policy of discrimination and division by colonialism rather than occurring by accident or natural disaster.”
H.E Fatou Harerimana, shedding light on the present day Rwanda, said Rwanda has indeed advanced significantly as a result of its right direction, today, Rwandans live together, the Genocide perpetrators have expressed regret to the victims and they live in harmony, unity, and reconciliation.
She said that today these are the same people who continue to spread hatred worsening the situation in Rwanda’s neighboring countries.
“Despite knowing their role in the division they caused in our countries and they continue to support the genocide ideology in the region and in the world, supporting and encouraging the FDLR to accomplish their desired mission of extermination of Tutsi, High Commissioner noted.
“We are appreciative of the leaders who noticed it early and spoke up, but the International Community disregarded them. We are grateful to everyone who spoke up to save the Tutsi, even though their voices were not heard.”
She mentioned , Rwanda reaffirms its commitment to play its role among the International Community in fighting genocide ideology and preventing genocide, ensuring that “never Again”translates into actions for generations to come.
As “we commemorate the 31stGenocide Against the Tutsi in 1994, we shall continue to keep close to our hearts the over One Million Tutsi who perished in that darkest period of our country’s history” she said.
She said that “we acknowledge the invaluable support from the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan over a long time.”
The High Commissioner said that to my fellow Rwandan Community living in Pakistan, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, Heads of Missions, and Diplomatic Corps, Senators, friends of Rwanda, brothers and sisters; your presence today stands out as a powerful sign of solidarity with us.
UN Resident Coordinator Mohamed Yahya and Additional Secretary MOFA Pakistan Hamid Asghar Khan also expressed their views on the Genocide.
Hamid Asghar Khan called attention towards the atrocities being committed by Israel in Gaza and by India in Occupied Jammu Kashmir. Indian defense officials and diplomats were also present at this occasion.
