Minister of Youth and Arts Abdallah utumatwishima calls for urgent action to combat the rise of genocide ideology and the denial of genocide in 1994, and is becoming increasingly apparent among “uned or uneducated young people.”
He described the genocide ideology as an “evil plan” that has been “owned for over 100 years by the enemy of Rwandans” that has constantly brought about dangerous beliefs among Rwandans.
“Educated people tend to reject these harmful ideologies more easily by understanding the truth,” he said at a past initiative event held at Nyanza Genocide Memorial in Kikukiro on Wednesday, April 9th this year.
“However, perpetrators are now shifting their focus to less-informed groups, such as domestic workers. We need to act collectively and urgently to reach these young people, educate them about the dangers of genocide ideology, and save them from falling into such evil beliefs. This is an urgent call to us,” he said.
He warned that as long as this ideology is still bred and believed by some, it remains a threat to national unity.
Also Read: Healing across generations: How to share the story of genocide with young people
The Nyanza Genocide Memorial is the final resting place for more than 96,000 casualties of Genocide. The Minister noted the importance of the monument.
“The monument stands as vivid evidence of the international community’s failure that the 1994 genocide failed to protect victims against the Tutsi,” he said.
Some of the most painful moments reminiscent of the recollection of the Belgian Peacekeeping Force (UNAMIR), serving on the United Nations Mission (UNAMIR), retreated on April 11, 1994. Shortly afterwards, more than 2,000 Tutsi were massacred in Nyanza after being kicked out of the school grounds by Interhamwe.
“We all need to stand strong in the truth. Our goal is always to ensure that genocide never happens again. We need to be prepared to deal with it. Have positive goals and focus on being productive.
Also Read: Where Young People Can Find Information About Genocide
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Young people’s weight
Content creator Sylvie Sugira, who attended the event, said fellow young people should be able to fight genocide ideology and denial.
Sugira is concerned about a future in which genocide survivors are no longer there to share their testimony.
“Who has the courage to move their story forward?” she poses. “For our generation, this is a call to action. We must stand up to our responsibility to learn history not only from textbooks, but from the voices of those who lived it.
“Let’s appear at the monument. Let’s ask questions. Let’s remember, because their stories are ours, and we must not erase them.”
“Because many young people have been educated about the history and importance of memory,” said Eric Sano, a member of our past initiative.
Sano urged fellow young people to attend commemorative activities throughout the 100 days and to understand what happened during the genocide against Tutsi.
Josiane Sugira, 20, began to be more intentional about the memorial of genocide when a friend urged us to attend our past. Now attending her third event, she said she is learning more about genocide.
“At each event, I learn more from the survivor’s testimony,” she said. “They bring me closer to the atrocities and help me feel the gravity of what has happened. This journey has sparked my curiosity and commitment. Now I am waiting with a positive attitude and aiming to be exemplary,” she said.
