Rubavu: Governor Ntibitura cautions border community on genocide ideology

The Governor of Western Province, Jean Bosco Ntibitura, has issued a stern warning to residents living near the Rwandan border with DR Congo, urging them to remain vigilant against the resurgence of genocide ideology. The governor’s warning comes following a genocide survivor’s death in Murundi Sector, Karongi District, who was killed in August 2024 and other such cases. The victim was identified as Béatrice Mukakanyamibwa. Local authorities linked her death to genocide ideology, according to court reports, and one of the suspects was a genocide convict who had been released from prison. Speaking to The New Times, Ntibitura acknowledged recent genocide-related incidents in the province, which shares both land and water borders with eastern DR Congo. The constant movement of people across the border for trade and family visits exposes residents to the toxic environment of genocide ideology and hate speech prevalent in eastern DR Congo, especially in places inhabited by members of the FDLR genocidal militia. ALSO READ: Inside school that sheltered Interahamwe fleeing to DR Congo The proximity to DR Congo facilitates communication between genocide perpetrators residing there and their families in Rwanda, Governor Ntibitura explained. Many of these individuals committed terrible crimes during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and maintain ties with their families here. Furthermore, the reintegration of some convicted genocide convicts back into society creates a ground for the spread of these harmful ideologies.” He highlighted the threat posed by the FDLR, which was founded by remnants of Interahamwe militia and former Rwandan army, the perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi, adding that the terrorist organisation actively seeks to destabilise Rwanda's security. “We still have Interahamwe and FDLR in Congo, who attempt to destabilise our security, Ntibitura said. He urged residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities to authorities. He highlighted the importance of community awareness and emphasised the need to reject any form of genocide ideology. We ask the people to avoid genocide ideology; there are some cases related to genocide reported in this region, and the people involved have been arrested,” he said. “That’s the reason why we urge our population to get rid of any genocide-related negative speech, considering what we went through and our past history. We should not have anyone harbouring genocide ideology today. Incidents, such as damaging properties and food crops belonging to Genocide survivors in Karongi and other parts of Western Province, have also been linked to genocide ideology. In Rubavu District, which borders North Kivu Province in the DR Congo, eight cases of genocide ideology were reported between April and December 2024. “We have seen eight cases of genocide ideology and this happens in other parts of the country,” said Gerard Mbarushimana, a representative of IBUKA, the umbrella organisation of genocide survivors’ associations. “We believe these cases involved individuals convicted of genocide who refused to confess and were then released,” he said. “Anyone convicted of genocide ideology should be severely punished and more efforts should be put into mobilising the youth in high schools and universities about the history of Rwanda, especially the history of the Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as unity, and resilience.” IBUKA in Rubavu strongly condemned the continued spread of hate speech and genocide ideology, both within Rwanda and abroad, particularly through social media platforms. According to Mayor Prosper Mulindwa, Rubavu District has increased efforts in public education campaigns to promote unity, targeting specific groups, including teachers and recently released Genocide convicts, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of Rwanda's history and the devastating consequences of the Genocide, which claimed more than one million lives.

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Rubavu: Governor Ntibitura cautions border community on genocide ideology