Former OAU chief commends Rwanda’s rise

ARUSHA – The Former Secretary-General of the Organisation of African Unity now African Union (AU), Dr Salim Ahmed Salim described as “remarkable” progress attained by Rwanda 15 years since the 1994 genocide against Tutsi. The career diplomat was addressing the Rwandan community and the heads of the diplomatic corps in Tanzania who had gathered at the residence of Ambassador of Rwanda to Tanzania to celebrate 15 years after the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) liberated the country. “We recall with great sadness and outrage the 1994 Genocide which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and left dark scars in the history of Rwanda,” said Salim who also was guest of honor at the event. He commended the Rwandan government for having promoted unity and reconciliation in a society that had been torn apart by a divisive political leadership. He said Rwanda now had a stable political atmosphere that has led to enormous economic growth. “I’m convinced that Rwanda of tomorrow will be much more different from that of today,” said Salim. Salim was at helm of the then OAU when the genocide took place in 1994. In his speech, Ambassador Zeno Mutimura told the gathering that in just three months -fifteen years ago - the whole world had been treated to and stunned by the gruesome massacres of innocent Rwandans on account of their ‘so called’ ethnic belonging. “Others who did not support the heinous genocide ideology were not spared either. Rwanda will not be the same again,” Mutimura said. Mutimura, who was recently replaced as envoy in this country, outlined Rwanda’s achievements that include maintaining macro-economic stability with the country registering 11.2 percent GDP in 2008. A cabinet meeting recently named Fatuma Ndangiza, who is the Executive Secretary of the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission as Mutimura’s replacement. The commemoration activities were simultaneously held in Tanzania’s capital Dar es Salaam and the country’s northern region city of Arusha where most Rwandans are employed either by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the East African Community secretariat. Ends