The Rwandan community in Atlanta, Georgia, and the surrounding areas on Saturday, January 14, 2023, came together to celebrate the new year.

The celebration brought together over 500 members of the Rwandan community and friends of Rwanda, mainly from Atlanta, Georgia, but also from neighboring states such as Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Texas.

The atmosphere was filled with joy and festivity as the community members marked the start of 2023.

The highlights of the celebration included the Rwandan traditional dances met with applause and cheers from an excited audience dressed in traditional attire.

Francis Mulindwa, the First Secretary at the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington D.C. who delivered the message on behalf of Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana reminded the community to strengthen their unity and work towards a common goal of achieving the RwandaWewant.

“As members of the Rwandan community, I urge you to maintain unity, embrace the diversity of your host country, and always remember to protect the brand of Rwanda. The image of our country reflects on you wherever you are and it is also important that you reflect its positive image to the world.”

The Rwandan community in Atlanta not only invited its members but also extended an invitation to other African communities, including Ugandans, Burundians, Kenyans, Congolese, Zambians, Zimbabweans, and Ghanaians, to celebrate New Year together.

Mr. Herbert Mugume Diego, President of the Rwandan community in Atlanta, Georgia reaffirmed the commitment of the community to be good ambassadors of their homeland, Rwanda.

Adding that “For the community, being able to celebrate the new year in such Rwanda’s environment abroad is a powerful reminder of our identity, and a chance to connect to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead.”

Members who have served the community in the past were presented the certificates of appreciation.

As the celebrations came to a close, the aroma of delicious traditional Rwandan dishes filled the air, families, and friends hugging each other warmly before heading to tables piled high with food and drinks.

Earlier, the Embassy provided biometrics services for passport and national ID applicants from the Rwandan community in Atlanta and surrounding areas, making it more convenient for members of the community to renew their documents without the need to travel to Washington D.C.

Since last year, the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington D.C. has been reaching out to Rwandan communities throughout the United States to provide biometrics services for passport and national ID applicants. Instead of requiring individuals to travel to the embassy in Washington D.C, the embassy in coordination with community leaders offers to bring the service to the communities.

This new service allows applicants approved by the Directorate General of Immigration and Emigration of Rwanda to have their fingerprints, passport photos, and signatures taken at locations convenient to them, reducing the need for travel and the associated expenses.

The embassy encourages all members of the Rwandan diaspora community who need to renew their passports or national ID to take advantage of this new service.

The Rwandan community in Atlanta is one of the twenty-eight Rwandan communities in the United States.