Twenty years after the liberation struggle that effectively ended the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans across the world continue to celebrate this landmark achievement in the country’s history.

In China, the celebrations were held in the capital Beijing yesterday and attended by hundreds of Rwandans, members of the diplomatic corps, and friends of Rwanda.

Speaking at the function, Rwanda’s Ambassador to China Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga said: "The 100-day campaign to stop the Genocide was a climax of nearly four years of struggle against  bad governance,” Kayonga said.

Kayonga noted that from a ‘ghost’ country it was in 1994, Rwanda has now emerged as a united and prosperous country, thanks to good leadership.

He said the prevailing peace has made it possible for Rwanda to embark on development programmes like Vision 2020, a strategy aimed at transforming the country into a middle-income economy.

Kayonga lauded the key role played by the government of the People’s Republic of China in Rwanda’s development process over the years.

"During the last 20 years, cooperation between our governments has been dynamic and productive,” Kayonga said at the function graced by the Chinese Vice Foreign Affairs minister, Zhang Ming.

United States

Meanwhile, in the US, a picnic format event was held last week at Fairland Recreational Parks in Maryland, and was attended by  over 300 Rwandans and friends of Rwanda.

Addressing the gathering, the defence attaché at the Rwandan embassy in Washington, Brig. Gen. Innocent Kabandana, said that despite the achievements registered over the past two decades, there should be no room for complacency. 

 He said Rwandans living abroad, including the youth, played a significant role in the liberation struggle and the reconstruction of the country.

Belgium

In Belgium, a similar event at the Rwandan embassy there was attended by over 600 people. This was followed by a fundraising event to support veterans injured in the liberation war.

 Amb. Robert Masozera said the history of the country’s liberation goes beyond the July 4, milestone.

He said: "The country continues to be liberated from decades of bad governance, corruption, and various injustices that characterised previous governments.”

  Johannesburg

In South Africa, an event jointly organised by the Rwandan High Commission there, the Holocaust and Genocide Centre, together with the Mandela Museum, brought together the Rwandan community and friends, including the Jewish community, to mark Kwibohora20 (Liberation 20).

During the event, held in Rivonia, the High Commissioner to South Africa, Vincent Karega, recalled the importance of celebrating the country’s progress over the last two decades, but added that it was also time for every Rwandan to individually take time and reflect on what role they can play to take the country further forward.

During the event, the movie ‘Shaking Hands with the Devil’ documenting the failure of the UN system in Rwanda during the Genocide against the Tutsi was screened.