There is no doubt that commemorating the memory of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi is a remembrance of the pain of the victims and mourning for the souls of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters, friends and relatives whose blood was shed without any crime, Amb Elzein Ibrahim Hussein, a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sudan, said on Thursday, May 12.

This was as Rwanda's diplomatic mission in Sudan in collaboration with the Rwandan Community there, members of the diplomatic corps, the civil society, academicians, representative of the host government, and friends of Rwanda, held the 28th Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda. 

The commemoration was held at Al-Salam Hotel in Khartoum, with about 250 people in attendance. The Government of Sudan was represented by Amb Hussein, the acting Director General of the Department of Africa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sudan.

"It is important, as we celebrate this commemoration annually, in honour of the souls of the martyrs, and to prevent it from happening in the future, to work together to combat hate speech, violence, fear of foreigners, marginalisation of the other, and striving to respect human rights,” said Hussein.

"We commend the Rwandan leadership in healing the wounds of the past and working towards the success of civil reconciliation and the prosecution of the perpetrators of crimes. Rwanda today has become a role model in the continent, and we should not forget the development that has been achieved and the comprehensive renaissance that the world is witnessing.”

The Sudanese official noted that in his country, they are in dire need of benefiting from the Rwandan experience in reconciliation and economic development.

"We also commend Rwanda's experience in establishing a fledgling Ministry of National Unity with the aim of strengthening the elements of national unity, through educational curricula and programs and preserving the memory of the genocide in order to prevent its recurrence in the future. In this remembrance, we renew the covenant with the principle of non-impunity, the rule of law, respect for human rights and the formation of institutions entrusted with this, in addition to freedom of opinion and expression and social justice.”

The solemn event in Khartoum started by playing both countries' national anthems, a minute of silence in remembrance of the more than one million Tutsi killed during the Genocide, and lighting the flame of hope as a symbol of resilience and hope for the future generations. 

A video of testimony by one of the Genocide survivors was screened and later, after the main remarks of the day, a video showing the progress Rwanda registered 28 years since 1994 was shown to the audience.

A leadership that values human life

The head of Rwanda's diplomatic mission in Sudan, Abel Buhungu, among others, noted that "as we commemorate, this is a day we compare and contrast evil and a leadership that values human life.”

Buhungu said it is "a time we give commendation” to the RPF young men and women led by President Paul Kagame, that took up the mantle of ending the genocide. 

He said it is also a time to remember and pay tribute to more than one million innocent souls butchered, and a time to recognise the immense resilience of genocide survivors whose physical and psychological scars are still fresh but yet are contributing to realising "the Rwanda we want and aspire to.” 

"It is a time to strengthen our unity and renew our collective determination to develop the country we so dearly love.”

He added: "Twenty-eight years after the genocide perpetrated against Tutsi, Rwanda has been rebuilt beyond all expectations. The country is politically and socially stable, peaceful and more prosperous than it has ever been.”

Though work is still in progress, he said, the country made important strides on the path to unity with collective identity no longer based on ethnicity but on civic identity of all Rwandan citizens. 

"Rwandan youth and women have been empowered to realise their full potential. The country enjoys peace and security and is a major contributor to UN Peacekeeping Forces.”