One cannot fathom the seriousness of an evil unless one has experienced it – first hand. That is why Rwanda takes conflict prevention and safe guarding the population – wherever they may be – seriously, and the international community has taken note.

The latest appointment of Maj. Gen. Jean Bosco Kazura, to head the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma), is just another pointer.

Kazura’s appointment comes in the wake of Lt. Gen. Patrick Nyamvumba’s end of four-year stint as head of the UN Stabilisation Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Another of our own, Lt. Gen. Karenzi Karake, was the deputy head of the previous mission, all who served with distinction.

When the Rwanda Defence Forces or members of the Police force serve on peace keeping missions, they do not regard it as a boat ride in calm waters; they take matters seriously because they know firsthand the effects of a detached and laid back peace mission, like the United Nations Mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR) did way back that led to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Over one million paid with their lives by putting their faith in a kindergarten-kind of mission.

With thousands of men and women serving in various UN peace keeping missions such as Haiti, Liberia, Sierra Leon, Ivory Coast and South Sudan, it is a clear manifestation of the country’s commitment to prop up peace wherever it may be needed.

This country learnt the hard way, a better reason to spare those who still have a chance to reason and avoid bloodshed.