The Minister for Defence, James Kabarebe, has emphasised that Genocide denial and ideology are threats to national security as much as Al Shabab and Al Qaeda are a threat to regional and global security.

The minister said this on Friday while addressing employees of Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), National Electoral Commission and Office of Auditor General on Strategies to fight Genocide ideology and denial.

The employees of the three institutions converged at RRA main hall, Kimihurura as part of activities to mark the 21st anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Minister Kabarebe said that genocide ideology posed a major security threat and called upon Rwandans to fight it bearing in mind that it is an evil to Rwanda and the region.

"Even one person harbouring genocide ideology is dangerous to the nation” he added.

He said the ideology has roots in the colonial period and post-colonial regimes in Rwanda that promoted hatred and divisionism among the population, leading to 1994 Genocide.

Kabarebe said that groups like the FDLR are the current custodians of genocide ideology. He warned FDLR genocidaires and their supporters that they are wasting time as Rwandans are united to continue fighting evil.

Minister Kabarebe urged Rwandans to consolidate the gains they have made and urged them to stay united as a tool to fight genocide ideology and denial.

"What Rwandans need is to build their country, know their interests, and to have a nation and nationhood.

Rwandans haven’t had a nation for long,” he said, adding that while thousands of Rwandans had been condemned to lifetime refuge, those in the country were treated as second class citizens.

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