Peacekeepers in CAR, Darfur commemorates Genocide

​Rwandan military and police peacekeepers in Central African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan yesterday joined the rest of the world in the 22nd commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi.

The event was held at M’Poko SOCATEL Camp, at the Rwanda army peacekeepers battalion (RWABATT3) headquarters, Bangui, the capital of CAR and graced by the Minister of Defense Joseph Bindoume and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) Chief of Staff Aliou Sene.

At the beginning of the event, dignitaries lite the memorial flame and laid the wreath of flowers to honor victims of the genocide.

The Minister expressed his condolences to the victims of the genocide against Tutsis and informed the audience that his government recognizes the genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda.

He further stated that the CAR government commends efforts that Rwanda has put on fighting genocide ideology.

“Our government is saddened by what happened in Rwanda 22 years ago, however, I personally and my government appreciate the effort put forward by the Rwandan government to fight against genocide ideology within Rwanda and abroad”, said Minister Bindoume.

​ACP   Gilbert R. Gumira,  contingent commander of Rwandan Police Peace keepers  spoke about the concept of commemoration and its meaning to Rwanda and the International Community , he also  narrated the historical background of the Genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda, how it was stopped and Rwanda’s path to recovery and rebuilding.

The representative of Rwandan Community in CAR Aimable Mpamo said; “We commemorate because we have to remember and to give honor for our people; one of the tools of fighting genocide ideology is to commemorate.”

He added that; “We should all be ambassadors in the fight against genocide ideology in your respective communities, if not, this tragedy may happen anywhere anyhow.”

Peacekeepers later held a night vigil that was marked with candle lighting and a movie about the genocide.

In a related development, peacekeepers in the Darfur Region of Sudan also held a similar commemorative event that was attended by peacekeepers from other countries, the Rwandan community in Darfur and friends of Rwanda.