The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda

Theme: Remembering the Past to Build a Better Tomorrow – Lessons Learned and Preventing Future Genocides

By Jacques Roger

Date: April 10th, 2025 | Location: National Press Club, Washington, DC

Introduction

Since the end of Rwanda’s civil war in 1994 and the genocide against the Tutsi—one of the darkest chapters in modern history—Rwandans across the world gather every April to remember the victims and reflect on how to build a more peaceful and just future.

From April 7 to July 4, 1994, over one million Tutsi men, women, and children were slaughtered by extremist forces. The genocide was methodical, calculated, and enabled by a toxic mix of hate propaganda, indifference, and international inaction.

This year, Watch Democracy Grow hosted a commemorative event on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of the genocide, under the theme: “Remembering the Past to Build a Better Tomorrow – Lessons Learned and Preventing Future Genocides.”

The event was intentionally held in April, which is widely recognized as Genocide Awareness Month:

• The Rwandan Genocide began in April 1994
• Holocaust Remembrance Day falls on April 23
• The Armenian Genocide began in April 1915
• The Khmer Rouge seized power in Cambodia in April 1975

Gathered at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., survivors, scholars, diplomats, human rights defenders, and strategists reflected not only on Rwanda’s tragedy, but also on other genocides—and how we might prevent such atrocities in the future.

Opening Remarks:  Mary Henrietta Uwera

In her introduction, Mary Henrietta Uwera, founder of Watch Democracy Grow, traced the origins of the organization to her graduate thesis at the University of Tennessee:

“Unity and reconciliation in Rwanda are only possible if democracy and the rule of law prevail.”

Her mission since then has been to promote democracy as a public good, ensuring both minority and majority rights, and amplifying voices often silenced or sidelined in mainstream peacebuilding narratives.

Panel One

Witnesses from Different Backgrounds and Other Similar Challenges Elsewhere

Moderator: Eric Walcott

This powerful panel featured testimonies from Emmanuel Muhinda (Rwanda), Adlan Ahmed Abdelaziz (Sudan), Safari Munyarugendo (DR Congo), and Walter Ruby (Jewish-American advocate).

Emmanuel Muhinda, a survivor of the 1994 genocide, shared his harrowing experience as a child in Rwanda—how he pretended to be dead to survive after his family was massacred. His message was deeply resonant:

“If you don’t live your life fully after what happened, it’s giving victory to those who wanted you dead.”

Adlan Abdelaziz, Sudanese human rights activist, warned of a genocide unfolding in real time in Darfur, where the RSF (Rapid Support Forces) have committed mass atrocities against the Masalit people.

“In June 2023, over 1,000 people were killed in Geneina. In November, 50,000 more. El Fasher is now under siege. Children are dying daily of starvation and shelling. This is genocide in the making—and we cannot say we didn’t see it coming.”

Safari Munyarugendo, a Congolese Tutsi, provided a deep historical reflection on the Tutsi population in eastern DRC. Drawing connections from the colonial past to present-day marginalization, he emphasized:

“If the Tutsis were fully recognized as Congolese, there would be no M23. We must legitimize their presence, not demonize it.”

Walter Ruby, journalist and Jewish-Muslim dialogue leader, compared his mother’s Holocaust survival story to other genocides, advocating for solidarity across histories of persecution:

“From Rwanda to Bosnia to the Holocaust, the pain is different, but the root is the same. We must refuse to be enemies and choose humanity.”

Panel Two

Comparing Genocides and the Role of the Diaspora in African Development

Moderator: Eric Walcott

Panelists: Andrea Barron, Andjelo Cherty Mwembya, and Dr. Lawrence Bland

Andrea Barron reflected on the trauma experienced by Rwandan refugees, even those living abroad.

“Many Rwandan asylum seekers I met in Uganda live in fear. Even there, they’re surveilled by agents. Their only crime? Daring to speak out.”

Dr. Lawrence Bland, civil rights elder and constitutional scholar, issued a moral call for accountability and unity:

“The world’s greatest weakness is the inability to act in unity. Color, caste, and suspicion divide us. But every creature wants the same thing: to be loved, protected, and to live in peace.”

He emphasized the economic potential of Black America—with a $2.2 trillion GDP—as an untapped resource for African development.

“If we were a nation, we’d be the 7th richest in the world. But Africa never reached out to us. Why?”

Key Strategic Remarks

By Andjelo Cherty Mwembya- Senior Strategist, Legatum Strategies LLC

Mr. Mwembya provided a strategic framework for prevention and long-term peacebuilding: “Strategy begins with analysis. And we’ve done that today—by comparing, listening, and reflecting. But now we must project long-term solutions.”

He warned against short-term thinking: “We can’t think in 5-year cycles. We need 50–100 year strategies: investments in governance, education, and civic structures.”

He also highlighted the dual nature of conflict—internal (ethnic, political) and external (colonial, geopolitical).

“In every genocide, external forces—arms dealers, resource interests—play a role. We must hold them accountable too.”

He ended on a hopeful note: “The United States, despite its imperfections, provides a model of democratic continuity and civic resilience. Africa can study and adapt these structures. Prevention must always outweigh reaction.”

CONCLUDING REMARKS FROM WATCH DEMOCRACY GROW

In her heartfelt closing, Mary Henrietta Uwera delivered a universal message: every human being comes from somewhere, and exclusion based on origin or ethnicity is a profound moral and historical error.

She recalled with deep gratitude how neighboring countries like Uganda and Kenya welcomed Tutsis expelled from Rwanda in 1959, without questioning their origin. She contrasted this with today’s harmful rhetoric that divides people based on where they come from or how they look.

Mary highlighted the importance of inclusion and mutual recognition, urging people to reject the ethnic divisions that have fueled violence across the continent. She spoke of her personal connection to the United States, where she found two powerful symbols: milk, which is sacred in Tutsi culture, and the American sense of humor, which reminded her of resilience and shared humanity.

On the issue of the Democratic Republic of Congo, she emphasized the importance of balanced representation in discussions. She insisted that if Tutsis were fully recognized and protected as Congolese citizens, the M23 conflict would not exist. Exclusion breeds rebellion; inclusion brings peace.

She shared a moving Japanese story of a boy carrying his deceased brother, to underline the dignity of love, even in suffering, and stressed that leadership has the power to build peaceful or destructive societies.

Mary also called on both Hutus and Tutsis to jointly uphold the promise of “Never Again.” Rwanda, she reminded, cannot exist without the Tutsis, who helped build its kingdom, institutions, and identity.

In closing, she appealed to the United States to embrace its unique moral responsibility in Africa, calling for a Marshall Plan to support long-term development and help end tribal conflicts across the continent.

“Let us not only remember. Let us act. Never again.”

Conclusion: From Memory to Movement

The Kwibuka 31 commemoration, hosted by Watch Democracy Grow, was more than a moment of remembrance. It was a platform of solidarity across continents, ethnicities, and histories. It reminded us that:

• Genocide is never spontaneous; it is manufactured through hate, fear, and dehumanization.
• Memory must be active, not passive. It must teach, mobilize, and protect.
• Democracy, when authentic and inclusive, remains the most powerful tool of prevention.

As one speaker put it:

“If Rwanda shines tomorrow, it will be because democracy took root. Not just voting—but human dignity, freedom, and justice for all.”

JACQUES ROGER – AFRIQUE2050