EAC lauds Rwanda on unity, reconciliation after 1994 genocide
The East African Community (EAC) has commended Rwanda for promoting unity and reconciliation in the aftermath of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
"In just 29 years, unity and reconciliation is being realized in Rwanda," said Peter Mathuki, the EAC secretary general.
The EAC statement was issued by its headquarters in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha during the commemoration of the 29th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi.
Mathuki said 29 years later, Rwanda has made tremendous strides that have exceeded expectations and should be rightly commended for doing so.
"'Never Again' should not only be a slogan but should also be translated into concrete actions as we strive to be one people for one destiny," said Mathuki.
He said as the world commemorated the 29th anniversary of the genocide, it was important to reaffirm the fundamental truth that all humans were created equal, each with certain undeniable rights that include the right to life. Mathuki added that no one has the right to take it away as was done in 1994.
Emmanuella Mtatifikolo, the Arumeru district commissioner in Arusha region, said the genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi in Rwanda was a tragedy not only to Rwanda as a country but to humanity as a whole.
"With the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, the entire humanity was put to test and the sanity of human nature was for once put into serious doubts," said Mtatifikolo, who represented the government of Tanzania.
The commemoration event themed "Remember-Unite-Renew" was preceded by a 'Walk to Remember' and laying of wreaths at the commemoration monument at the EAC gardens as a tribute to the more than one million innocent lives lost through the heinous extermination of Tutsis in Rwanda in 1994.
