Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement, Dr. Jean Damascene Bizimana, has warned individuals attempting to distort the history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi that their efforts are in vain, insisting that truth cannot be defeated.
He made the remarks while joining residents of Rubavu and Nyabihu districts in the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi held at the Bigogwe Genocide Memorial, where more than 9,000 victims are laid to rest.
Dr. Bizimana reflected on the divisive political systems and ideology that shaped Rwanda between 1959 and 1994, saying successive regimes institutionalized hatred and ethnic discrimination, which ultimately culminated in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
He noted that understanding this history is essential to safeguarding the gains achieved over the past 32 years since the Genocide was stopped by the FPR-Inkotanyi, emphasizing that every Rwandan has a role in protecting national unity.
The minister also delivered a message of comfort and resilience to survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Bigogwe and the former prefectures of Gisenyi and Ruhengeri, urging them to remain strong as the country continues to rebuild.
He called on Rwandans to honor the memory of those who were killed by living responsibly and ensuring that such atrocities never happen again.
“Let us honor our loved ones with dignity and live for those who are no longer with us. The Rwanda they dreamed of is now a reality, and what happened should never happen again,” he said.
Dr. Bizimana strongly condemned individuals who continue to deny or minimize the Genocide against the Tutsi, warning that attempts to defend or justify such crimes undermine national unity and justice.
He stressed that there is no space in today’s Rwanda for genocide denial or revisionism, urging citizens to firmly reject such ideologies.
Rubavu District Mayor Prosper Mulindwa noted that Bigogwe remains one of the areas where the Genocide against the Tutsi was carried out with extreme brutality, pointing to the involvement of soldiers stationed at the former Bigogwe military camp under commanders including Colonel Anatole Nsengiyumva.
