Ethiopian minister visits Genocide memorial

Berhanu Abera, the Ethiopian Minister of Defense, has pointed a finger at colonial powers who work hard to divide Africans in order to rule them. He made the remarks yesterday at Kigali Genocide Memorial centre.Abera said they engineered divisionism so that they could plunder the continent’s rich resources. “It was not just in Rwanda but the whole of Africa, where the colonialists employed ruthless means and stirred hatred amongst Africans to rule the continent,” he said.“So when they left, the divisionism they had created deepened and later caused untold catastrophes; Africans starting working against each other. They must unite and denounce whoever wants to cause conflicts”.At the centre, he learnt how the Genocide against Tutsis was planned by the government which trained militias. He said it was absurd that the militias were helped by external forces.“I think these were not human beings. They were guided by the devil. I am so sorry about what happened to Rwanda, but I cannot understand how a person can become so callous and kill his own brothers,” Abera said.“However, the past is past and I am amazed by how fast Rwandans have reconciled. The message to Africa and Rwanda in particular is that the continent belongs to us and we shall love each other”.He said the major achievements by the Rwandan government over the last seventeen years must be a lesson to African leaders. “With a visionary leadership, all is possible,” Abera said.