PHOTOS: Rwandans in Ethiopia celebrate Rwanda's liberation

The Rwandan community in Ethiopia celebrated the 30th anniversary of Liberation of Rwanda, in an event that brought together about 300 people, including members of diplomatic corps, Ethiopian government officials, African Union officials, and friends of Rwanda. Organised by the Rwandan embassy in the Horn of Africa country, the event was an opportunity to celebrate the bravery and selflessness of the men and women of the RPF-Inkotanyi, under the leadership and command of President Paul Kagame, who liberated Rwanda and stopped the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. ALSO READ: Rwandans in Indiana honour RPA liberation sacrifices The ceremony also celebrated Rwanda's transformation journey over the past 30 years. Rwanda's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Maj Gen (Rtd) Charles Karamba, said that Liberation Day celebrations had their roots in an unpleasant history of the country that was characterized by discrimination, divisionism, and hatred, which resulted in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. “Before July 1994, persistent hate speeches and open promotion of discrimination gave rise to persecutions and many other forms of violence against the Tutsi community. Continued hostilities led to open massacres and inevitably gave rise to the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda,” Karamba said. He noted the meaning of the Liberation Day for the people who put an end to Rwanda’s darkest chapter, ushering in a new era built on the unity and security for all Rwandans, zero tolerance to corruption, democratic leadership and institutions, promoting social welfare and the fight against genocide ideology. Karamba also commended the strong ties between Rwanda and Ethiopia, recognising the political will and leadership of President Kagame and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for working to strengthen this bond. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union, she paid special tribute to the men and women who paid the ultimate price to liberate Rwanda and make the country a transformed society and a role model for other African countries. “As we look back on the Genocide against Tutsis in Rwanda and this liberation day that came after on July 4, let us draw inspiration from the past to guide us in the present and in the future, Nsanzabaganwa said. Let us honour the sacrifices of those who came before us by upholding the values of governance efficiency, justice, and economic development. We thank the people of Rwanda and the leadership of President Kagame for holding steadfast to the long road to rebuild [a country] once in ashes into what we now see as a beacon of success”. ALSO READ: Rwandans in Indiana honour RPA liberation sacrifices Fissaha Shawel, who represented the Ethiopian government, commended the achievements made by Rwanda in the past three decades after the tragic history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and appreciated the resilience of the Rwandan people and the political leadership for rebuilding the country and society. Shawel saluted the Ethiopian peacekeepers, who were in Rwanda in 1994, who protected genocide survivors. “Ethiopia will keep working with Rwanda in their respective efforts to build a better, stronger and united continent” he said. The celebrations were also marked by sharing of Rwanda’s achievements through documentaries, liberation songs and traditional dances.

News

PHOTOS: Rwandans in Ethiopia celebrate Rwanda's liberation