PHOTOS: Rwandan peacekeepers celebrate 30th Liberation anniversary in South Sudan

Rwandan peacekeepers serving under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Rwandan community in South Sudan, along with friends including other UN contingents, South Sudanese officials, and UNMISS representatives, celebrated the 30th anniversary of Rwanda’s Liberation on Saturday, July 6. Guests were welcomed by Rwanbatt-3 Contingent Commander, Col Tyson Sesonga, at the Durupi Military Base Camp in Juba. The Government of South Sudan was represented by Amb Akech Chol Ahou, the Director General of the Department of International Laws and Treaties, representing the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Among the key guests were Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for South Sudan, and Flora Gabriel Modi, the Mayor of Juba. ALSO READ: South Sudan, rebel groups South Sudan, rebel groups sign peace deal sign peace deal In his remarks, the Rwanda Senior National Representative in South Sudan, Brig Gen William Ryarasa, reflected on how the Rwanda Patriotic Army liberated the country from a genocidal regime that perpetuated injustice and denied fundamental rights, including identity, to Rwandans, keeping them as refugees for years. He emphasized that Rwandans and their friends are now celebrating Rwanda's rebirth and achievements in various sectors, attributing this progress to the visionary leadership of President Paul Kagame. ALSO READ: Rwandan peacekeepers in South Sudan decorated with UN medals The Rwandan Community Representative in South Sudan, William Ngabonziza, expressed gratitude to the RPA for their sacrifice in stopping the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and liberating Rwanda. He affirmed the community's dedication to collaborating with other Rwandans and Africans in the pursuit of peace and development. Nicholas Haysom, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for South Sudan, praised Rwanda for its remarkable achievements in unity and reconciliation post-genocide. He noted that Rwanda, under visionary leadership, has transformed into an exemplary nation, ranking third globally in contributions to UN peacekeeping operations and being the largest troop-contributing country to UNMISS. Amb Ahou congratulated Rwanda on its Liberation. He highlighted the strong bilateral cooperation between South Sudan and Rwanda and expressed a desire to deepen this relationship further, thanking Rwandan peacekeepers for their contributions in South Sudan. The event featured cultural dance performances by contingents from Rwanda, Nepal, China, Ethiopia, and South Sudan civilians, as well as martial arts and demonstrations of skills at arms by Rwandan peacekeepers.

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PHOTOS: Rwandan peacekeepers celebrate 30th Liberation anniversary in South Sudan