The U.S. Launch of Kwibuka20

WASHINGTON, DC, February 24, 2014 – Today, the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the members of the Rwandan community officially launched Kwibuka20 in the United States. Kwibuka means to remember in Kinyarwanda, and Kwibuka20 describes commemoration taking place in Rwanda and abroad leading up to, and during, the mourning period between April 7th and July 4th. Dr. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the U.S.C. Shoah Foundation and the Executive Producer of Kwibuka20, welcomed a distinguished panel of speakers that are at the forefront of international efforts on genocide prevention. The U.S. launch was attended by more than 250 people including members of the Rwandan community; members of the diplomatic corps, academics, foundations, and other representatives.
The program embodied the Kwibuka20 maxim to “remember-unite-renew”. The harrowing testimony of Jason Nshimye, a Bisesero genocide survivor, and remarks by Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, were a sober reminder of the dark side of humanity and the evil blight of genocide in the twentieth century. The remarks by Clotilde Mbaranga Gasarabwe, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Safety & Security, and Amina S. Ali, Ambassador of the African Union Mission to the United States, called for universal learning from Rwanda’s experience that can help address raging mass astrocities in many parts of world including the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Mali. An uplifting gospel song and a poignant poem provided a renewed sense of Rwanda’s future. Lit by Rwandans, Urumuri Rutazima, a flame of hope, remembrance, courage and resilience called for the global community to unite in a fight against genocide.
Senator Russ Feingold, U.S Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and D.R.C., emboldened the audience by demanding that they not let genocide define Rwanda. He further related his own experience as a Jew and the traumatic history of Holocaust. Pointedly, he declared, “Rwanda will always be the country that experienced the 1994 genocide, but let that not be the first sentence, nor the last. The Rwandan people are survivors, but they are more so entrepreneurs, teachers, public servants, and farmers. They are Rwandans.”
Dr. Adama Dieng, UN Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention, shed light on both institutional and personal responsibilities of genocide prevention. He provided a touching personal testimony of Captain Mbaye Diagne, a United Nations military observerwhose life was taken because he saved of Tutsis, an example of the deep commitment at the individual level.WASHINGTON, DC, February 24, 2014 – Today, the Embassy of Rwanda in Washington, D.C. in collaboration with the members of the Rwandan community officially launched Kwibuka20 in the United States. Kwibuka means to remember in Kinyarwanda, and Kwibuka20 describes commemoration taking place in Rwanda and abroad leading up to, and during, the mourning period between April 7th and July 4th. Dr. Stephen Smith, Executive Director of the U.S.C. Shoah Foundation and the Executive Producer of Kwibuka20, welcomed a distinguished panel of speakers that are at the forefront of international efforts on genocide prevention. The U.S. launch was attended by more than 250 people including members of the Rwandan community; members of the diplomatic corps, academics, foundations, and other representatives.
The program embodied the Kwibuka20 maxim to “remember-unite-renew”. The harrowing testimony of Jason Nshimye, a Bisesero genocide survivor, and remarks by Dr. Gregory Stanton, President of Genocide Watch, were a sober reminder of the dark side of humanity and the evil blight of genocide in the twentieth century. The remarks by Clotilde Mbaranga Gasarabwe, U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Safety & Security, and Amina S. Ali, Ambassador of the African Union Mission to the United States, called for universal learning from Rwanda’s experience that can help address raging mass astrocities in many parts of world including the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Mali. An uplifting gospel song and a poignant poem provided a renewed sense of Rwanda’s future. Lit by Rwandans, Urumuri Rutazima, a flame of hope, remembrance, courage and resilience called for the global community to unite in a fight against genocide.
Senator Russ Feingold, U.S Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa and D.R.C., emboldened the audience by demanding that they not let genocide define Rwanda. He further related his own experience as a Jew and the traumatic history of Holocaust. Pointedly, he declared, “Rwanda will always be the country that experienced the 1994 genocide, but let that not be the first sentence, nor the last. The Rwandan people are survivors, but they are more so entrepreneurs, teachers, public servants, and farmers. They are Rwandans.”
Dr. Adama Dieng, UN Special Advisor on Genocide Prevention, shed light on both institutional and personal responsibilities of genocide prevention. He provided a touching personal testimony of Captain Mbaye Diagne, a United Nations military observerwhose life was taken because he saved of Tutsis, an example of the deep commitment at the individual level.
Rwandan Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana called for the need for a global community to discern lessons from Rwanda in order to prevent mass atrocities and genocide elsewhere. On a very somber note, she reminded the audience that the commemoration period“is a time for honest reflection, frank dialogue, and a commitment to shared humanity.”
Rwandan Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana called for the need for a global community to discern lessons from Rwanda in order to prevent mass atrocities and genocide elsewhere. On a very somber note, she reminded the audience that the commemoration period“is a time for honest reflection, frank dialogue, and a commitment to shared humanity.”