The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on April 25 observed, for the first time, the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Through a ceremony marked by contemplation and reflection, this commemoration aimed to highlight the importance of the duty to remember, particularly in the context of United Nations peacekeeping operations, a related statement reads.

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It adds: "The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, carried out in the presence of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, remains a dark reminder of the international community&039;s failure to prevent and stop an avoidable genocide.

"This failure was the catalyst for the inclusion of the protection of civilians as a priority task in the mandates of peacekeeping missions, thus redefining the modalities of these interventions on a global scale.”

The ceremony which brought together nearly 300 guests from the Central African government, the diplomatic corps, United Nations staff in the Central African Republic and law students from the University of Bangui, began with the lighting of the flame of remembrance by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the Central African Republic and Head of MINUSCA, Amb Valentine Rugwabiza, accompanied by the Minister of State for Justice, Arnaud Djoubaye Abazene, the Head of Rwanda's diplomatic mission in the Central African Republic, Olivier Kayumba, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Amb Moulay Abdelhadi Alaoui Azizi.

A minute's silence was observed in tribute to the victims, followed by the screening of a video message from the UN Secretary-General and a video testimony of genocide survivor Esther Mujawayo delivered in April 2019 at the podium of the UN General Assembly Hall as part of Kwibuka 25. Testimonies from UN staff who served in Rwanda in 1994 were shared, offering a unique perspective on their memory of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

These speeches highlighted the challenges faced by the peacekeepers of the Ghanaian contingent through the testimony of Andrew Awuah, who was present to share the harrowing stories told by his father, who was in Rwanda during the 100 days of the Genocide and had to deal with situations of chaos and extreme violence. From 1995 onwards, Awuah himself served in Rwanda on the Gishari side, where he found a precarious security situation, with a population traumatized by the Genocide, requiring constant patrols and appropriate protection of civilians, demonstrating innovation in carrying out this duty despite the challenges.

Renner Onana, one of the first human rights officers deployed to Rwanda by the United Nations in 1995, shared a disturbing testimony about his interaction with an elderly prisoner who had killed two children. The detainee questioned his own incarceration by comparing his act to that of a fellow inmate who had killed 50 people, raising questions about the justice and fairness of his situation and highlighting the enormity of the challenges facing post-Genocide Justice.

Musical interludes and artistic performances by Central African slammer Cyrus Zemangui Kette, inspired by Jean Haztfeld's triptych "Tales from the Rwandan swamps", punctuated the ceremony, offering participants moments of reflection and contemplation.

The final part of the ceremony saw the head of Rwanda's diplomatic mission in the Central African Republic, Kayumba, share specific information on the number of victims of the genocide, its impact and the psychological consequences that survivors and their descendants are still suffering today. Kayumba recalled that despite the atrocities committed, Rwanda has shown remarkable resilience by embracing unity and responsibility. However, he also warned against the resurgence of the ideology of hatred and division, underlining the need to learn from the past to prevent such atrocities in the future, as President Paul Kagame emphasized in his speech marking the start of Kwibuka 30 in Kigali.

Finally, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and Head of MINUSCA expressed her gratitude to the participants, underlining that their presence in such numbers was the finest sign of solidarity with the genocide survivors. She paid tribute to the victims and praised the resilience of the survivors and their contribution to the reconstruction of Rwanda.

Recalling the importance of correctly naming historical events, she warned against denying the Genocide.

Rugwabiza said: "The planners and perpetrators of the Genocide attempted to erase all trace of the existence of their victims from the face of the Earth. It was not just a question of murdering them in the cruelest way possible, but also of destroying every material trace of their existence.

"By coming together today for this commemoration, we are defeating the purpose of genocide by honoring the lives and suffering of the victims and educating present and future generations about the mechanisms of genocidal ideology".

Highlighting the crucial role of UN peacekeeping missions, particularly in the protection of civilians, the Special Representative underlined the impact of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda on the way these missions are conceived and conducted.

She honored the courage of Capt Mbaye Diagne of Senegal, who died a hero as he rescued many Rwandans from death, and Brig Gen Henry Kwami Anyidoho, the former head of Ghana’s UN Peace Keeping Mission in Rwanda, underlining the importance of their example in guiding collective and individual commitment and responsibility in the protection of vulnerable populations.