Rwandans welcomed the New Year with much pomp and hope for the year ahead that is going to be a year of milestones for Rwandans.

2024 is a year when Rwandans will be celebrating 30 years after the country rose from the ruins of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

We will not only remember 30 years when the country lost over a million innocent lives, but also a year when the journey of rebirth began.

As usual, the year was ushered in with fireworks displays, musical shows and overnight prayers with many thanking God for welcoming the New Year safe and sound and looking forward to what 2024 comes with it.

Individually, the beginning of a new year is often a moment of reflection, and characterised with drawing new resolutions and ambitions.

It is the opportune time to look back at the closing year, celebrating achievements and digesting the missed opportunities, with many hoping for a fresh start in the New Year.

For Rwanda and her people, the last three decades have been eventful and remarkable in many ways. Every New Year has come with its own challenges and fresh possibilities for our country. This will be no different.

It presents infinite opportunities to the people of Rwanda but, as with the past years, it will not be without challenges and difficulties along the way.

What matters most is for the country and the people of Rwanda to remain united and keenly aware of the present and future challenges and to constantly draw on their past experiences, resilience and sheer willpower to succeed against all odds.

Rwanda’s story of transformation and determination is enough catalyst for each of the citizens to punch above their weight and dismantle any barriers along the way.

If you are the type that sets New Year’s resolutions, it is the time to commit to never losing focus and to periodically assess how you are faring on each one of them in the course of the year, and to learn lessons from the glitches you encounter along the way so as to know how best to move forward and when to move on, if necessary.

At the national level, it is critical that those entrusted with the responsibility to lead the transformation agenda do not take their foot off the gas, rather use the New Year as an opportunity to reinvigorate, reenergise and recommit to their duties.

The New Times Publications family takes this opportunity to wish all our esteemed readers, clients, partners and Rwandans in general a very happy and prosperous New Year.