07.04.2020

Rwanda: 7-13 April 2020: Activities of the 26th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi

The United Evangelical Mission (UEM) keeps the Rwandan community in thoughts and prayers. Through a morning devotion on the 6^th April, Rev. Sylvia Bukowski of the Rhenish Church, who gave many lectures in the Protestant University of Rwanda, shared a comforting message with the Rwandans who are starting a 3 months celebration on the 7^th April.  The Psalm 55 encourages all sufferers:  “No suffering is forgotten by God, not even hidden suffering.

In Rwanda, like in many other countries, there is a strict ban on meetings due to Coronavirus. So there will be no comforting hugs with friends, no family gatherings where people can strengthen one another. Many will be particularly hard exposed to their memories this year.  Rev. Sylvia Bukowski reminds the UEM friends: „It is important, therefore, that we should not forget to show our Rwandan friends out of sheer concern for the effects of the corona pandemic: this year too we are connected with them in remembrance and prayers.”

UEM and German church partnership groups support the Presbyterian and four dioceses of the Anglican Church in Rwanda in rebuilding the country by providing emergency aid, training church workers (national and abroad), training youth and women leaders, implementing agricultural and environmental projects, promoting the protection of human rights and improved health programs. The UEM currently has three employees in Rwanda and accompanies regular short-term assignments in the country. Several community social and development projects selected by the churches are also supported by the UEM on a yearly basis.   

From April to July each year is the 100-day commemoration of the victims of this incredible crime. Many of Rwandans and their friends in the world have experienced the horror themselves. Even 26 years later, people are still suffering from deep wounds and remembrances. A lot of tears still flow.

The National Commission against the Genocide (CNLG) has published the week commemoration schedule. As the Coronavirus cases increase on a daily basis, the 26^th anniversary will be differently organised. In the challenging time of strictly observing rules to fight the Coronavirus, the Rwandan community and friends worldwide will join to commemorate the 26^th ceremony.

Big gatherings will not be possible as usual but during the weekly programme, each day, it is planned the following highlights, as published in the New Times of March 29^th, 2020.  According to the main source quoting Dr Jean-Damascène Bizimana, the Executive Secretary of CNLG, the Kwibuka26 “Remembering26” week schedule is summarized as follows:

April 7: At the Kigali memorial site, people will pay tribute to the people buried there. There will be the lighting of the flame of hope, one minute of silence shall be observed, followed by a general address from the guest of honour, most likely President Paul Kagame of the Republic of Rwanda.

April 8: According to the statistics, 70 per cent of Rwanda’s population is youths. The day’s focus will be to exchange on the youth’s role in fighting and combatting the ideology against the genocide.

April 9: focus on the journey of the survivors. The umbrella of the survivors’ Organisations, IBUKA, will moderate the talk with the organisations from different parts of the world.

April 10:  digging deep into the role that the media played in fuelling the genocide. Most of the media houses that were in place like Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM) and Kangura Magazine helped to fuel the genocide ideology. There will also be an impact assessment of today’s media and how it can contribute to the unity and reconciliation of Rwandan citizens.

April 11: The role of the global community in never again campaign. There are several international bodies and governments accused of having a hand or unwillingness to stop the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This day will based on published reports of their role, focusing on what those bodies and governments have learnt from Rwanda.

April 12: In 2018, the Ministry of Health alongside CNLG released a study that revealed that 30 per cent of the survivors still face trauma stemming from the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. On this date, the discussions will revolve around fighting trauma.

April 13: The closing date of the official commemoration will see few officials attend a commemoration of politicians killed during the Genocide, an event that will be held in Rebero where some 14,000 genocide victims are buried.

At the end of the commemoration week, participants will be brought to critically looking at the role of political parties in spreading divisions among the population. The talks will also look at the new political system of unity and how it can be positively applied to influence social and economic development.

The UEM Africa Executive Secretary, the Rev. Dr John Wesley Kabango