05.04.2024

Remember. Unite. Reniew.

The Genocide Memorial Center in Kigali, Rwandas Capital City. Photo by: Susanne Seiler, VEM

“There are no words to describe this horrible human tragedy that is remembered in Rwanda for 100 days from this April. What has happened will never be forgotten”, says Rev Dr Pascal Bataringaya, President of UEM member church EPR* in Rwanda.

April 7, 2024, marks the 30^th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, committed by Hutu in Rwanda. Starting at April 7, 1994, within about 100 days more than 800,000 Tutsi and 10,000 Twa were murdered. Today, the Rwandan constitution speaks of a Million dead.

The current memorial celebrations during the one hundred days of national mourning in Rwanda are an important opportunity to keep the victims of the genocide in memory. It is also a time to demonstrate solidarity with the survivors, and to stand firm against current forms of crimes against humanity. This includes hate speech, genocide ideology and denial of genocide. Under the topic of the year 2023 “Remember. Unite. Renew.” this years memorial celebration in Rwanda calls to resistance against such crimes, so that they can happen never again: Neither in Rwanda, nor anywhere else.

Two members from Rwanda are part of the United Evangelical Mission: EPR* is one member; four Dioceses of EAR* are one member together as well (Dioceses of Butare, Cyangugu, Kigeme and Shyogwe). Since 2008, EPR and EAR are working together with CBCA* from the DR Congo in the Peace Network of APRED. This network is working, among other things, in the field of education, to build and support peace between Rwanda and DR Congo.

Rev Dr John Wesley Kabango is a Pastor of EAR, UEM Deputy General Secretary and Head of the Division Africa/Germany. He says: “Our International Sisters and Brothers in UEM support the courage, resilience and tolerance of the Rwandans necessary for rebuilding Rwanda and rehabilitating many people psychologically and morally.”

The future of remembering and reconciling work is now in Rwanda: “The Rwandan people and government are determined to implement the principle of ‘Never Again’ permanently”, says Pascal Bataringaya.

*EPR = Eglise Presbyterienne au Rwanda (Presbyterian Church of Rwanda)

*EAR = Eglise Anglicane au Rwanda (Anglican Church of Rwanda)

*CBCA = La Communauté Baptiste au Centre de L'Afrique (Baptist Church in Central Africa)