A group of ten German journalists has promised to tell Rwanda’s recovery story after concluding a 10-day tour of the country. They were in Rwanda to learn how far the country has gone on its unity and reconciliation path after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Organised by Jumelage Rhenanie-Palatinat in Rwanda, the tour was aimed to enlighten journalists to depict an accurate picture of Rwanda's recovery in Germany by getting personal experiences within the country.

"For German journalists, it is important to get direct impressions and personal experiences with the current situation in Rwanda 20 years after the Genocide, and not to base their articles on secondary information,” Uwe Mayer, head of Jumelage Rhenanie-Palatinat, told The New Times.

Stefan Gagstetter, one of the participants and journalist with the ZDF (a German public television chain), confirmed that his image of Rwanda changed during the visit. 

"I wanted to get to know Rwanda personally and to critically rethink the image I had on it. When we hear about Rwanda in Germany, it is always connected with Genocide. We have these gruesome pictures from 1994 in mind,” he said. "Being here now, I am really surprised at the big steps Rwanda has taken during the last twenty years. Rwanda is safe and clean. For its neighbouring countries, Rwanda can serve as a development model”.