USA - The Rwandan Ambassador to the US, James Kimonyo, has called upon the international community to be aware and fight Genocide denial, which he said, is spread by academics who continue to preach hatred and protect perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Kimonyo was speaking to students and faculty of the California Baptist University, on Monday, as part of the 17th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

"Denial is the last stage of Genocide and it could be the beginning of another cycle of Genocide, if left unchecked or stopped,” Kimonyo told the audience.

"We must rise to the challenge and fight those who are spreading divisions and falsehoods about the country. These detractors are disgruntled and selfish individuals, most of whom are Genocide fugitives whose intention is to distort facts about Rwanda and her leadership”.

The Ambassador pointed out that it was always important to consult with credible organisations, citing the World Bank, IMF, United Nations and other transparent government agencies, whenever there is need to verify information about Rwanda.

"Criminals have no moral authority or credibility to address anybody, their place is in prison and not academic institutions,” Kimonyo said.

He urged the international community to join hands with Rwandans to ensure that such atrocities do not happen again.

"The politics of identity, orchestrated by selfish politicians, resulted into the Genocide against Tutsi in which over one million innocent civilians lost their lives,” he said.

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