On May 7, 2024, Sweden’s Equality Ombudsman released a book shedding light on the discrimination against Tutsi that he witnessed, which ultimately led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
Lars Arrhenius, 60, grew up in Rwanda’s Karongi District where his father was a missionary, attending school with Rwandan children.
Upon returning to Sweden, Arrhenius found it impossible to forget his past. The stark disparity between what he heard about Rwanda and what he experienced in its schools haunted him. He recalls being forbidden to interact with his Tutsi friends and being fed false narratives demonising the Tutsi people.
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His friends confided in him about ongoing discrimination and the looming threat of violence against Tutsi. Tragically, these fears became reality in April 1994, with one of his friends bidding him a final farewell in a letter.
Throughout, Arrhenius closely monitored developments in Rwanda, particularly the cases of those implicated in the atrocities who sought refuge in Sweden. Witnessing discrimination at a young age inspired him to pursue law, determined to combat such injustices.
As Sweden’s Equality Ombudsman, Arrhenius works tirelessly to address discrimination based on various grounds including sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and age. His personal experiences fuel his dedication to creating a more equitable society.
His book, "Lejonmyran”, reflects on his time in Rwanda, highlighting the discrimination he witnessed and the stories of his friends. Arrhenius emphasises the international community’s failure to intervene during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and condemns any attempts to deny its occurrence.
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Arrhenius seizes every opportunity to raise awareness about the Genocide, recently speaking on Sweden’s largest radio station. The book launch in Stockholm garnered attention from government officials, including the State Secretary to the Prime Minister Johan Jakobsson who participated in the 30th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
The event was also attended by Ambassador Diane Gashumba, Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Nordic countries, and representatives from The Living History Forum, an agency dedicated to promoting democracy, tolerance, and human rights.
Among the attendees included the President of Ibuka-Sweden, Josine Kanamugire, embassy staff, leaders of the Rwandan community, and Arrhenius’ friends.
Earlier this year, Arrhenius visited Rwanda to complete his book, reconnecting with the families of his deceased schoolmates and meeting with government officials from the Office of the Government Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Ministry of National Unity and Civic Engagement.
Arrhenius remains steadfast in his commitment to truth-telling about Rwanda, believing it to be essential for positive global change. Plans are underway to translate his book from Swedish into English, further amplifying its message.