The Ministry of Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) has urged Rwandan Youth to stay vigilant, open-minded, and committed to understanding the true history of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. They are were advised to resist the influence of social media platforms where the history of this tragic event is often distorted or denied.
While social media is often seen as a space where young people engage with information, MINUBUMWE stresses that the distortion of history is not coming from the youth, but rather from older individuals. These are people who, burdened with shame for their roles in the genocide, now seek to mislead younger generations through denial and revisionism.
This message was shared on Monday, December 9, 2024, during an international conference focused on preventing genocide and upholding the truth about the 1994 genocide. Dr. Bizimana Jean Damascene, Minister of MINUBUMWE, addressed the conference, emphasizing that many of the individuals spreading genocidal ideology online are older, often over 50, and have lived with the guilt of their involvement in the genocide.
Having been influenced by genocidal teachings in their youth, some of these individuals continue to spread hatred and deny the atrocities that took place.
According to Dr. Bizimana, those who use social media to deny or distort the history of the genocide are, for the most part, not the youth. These are people who, in their youth, were exposed to genocidal ideology, many even playing an active role in the genocide itself. They cannot let go of their ethnic hatred, and now they try to twist the truth to mislead others.
The Minister called on young people to reject any form of division and instead focus on fostering unity, peace, and understanding. He stressed the importance of learning the true history of Rwanda, saying that only by embracing the lessons of the past can the youth help build a peaceful, prosperous future for the country.
“We want our young people to continue learning about the true history of our nation and draw lessons from it. What benefits them is living in peace, advancing themselves, and contributing to the growth of our country—not following those who seek to mislead them.”
Dr. Bizimana acknowledged that while the group spreading genocide denial online is small, their influence on the younger generation is concerning. Their efforts to promote hatred and genocidal ideology must be countered, he said, so that future generations can inherit a better, more united Rwanda.
He added by saying, “We all have a responsibility to protect and share the true history of our country, to safeguard our unity, and to prevent anything that could divide us. We must teach this history to the youth so they can live in a peaceful and prosperous country.”
Over the past 30 years since the genocide, the world has learned many important lessons. The creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) marked a significant moment in the global fight against impunity for genocide, serving as the first international court in Africa to hold perpetrators accountable. In 2014, the UN Security Council took the momentous step of elevating the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi to the status of an international principle, making denial of the genocide a global issue.
Today, many countries, including France, Belgium, the UK, and Italy, have established memorials to honor the victims of the genocide, with more than 150 nations around the world now committed to preventing and punishing genocide.
As Rwanda continues to heal and rebuild, the call for unity, truth, and remembrance remains stronger than ever.
