The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Moses Rugema, has called on the international community to intensify efforts in combating genocide ideology, warning that the threat remains real and increasingly amplified in today’s digital age.
Rugema made the appeal in Abuja during the commemoration of Kwibuka 32, an annual event marking the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi ethnic group. The solemn gathering, themed “Remember. Unite. Renew.”, brought together diplomats, government officials, and members of the international community to reflect on one of the darkest chapters in modern history.
The 1994 genocide, which unfolded between April 7 and July 4, claimed more than one million lives in just 100 days, as extremist forces carried out a systematic extermination of Tutsi civilians, alongside moderate Hutu and others who opposed the killings.
Describing Kwibuka as “a moment of reflection for Rwandans, and a call to conscience for the world,” Rugema stressed that remembrance must extend beyond ceremonial observance.
“We honour the victims, the mothers who shielded their children, the fathers who stood helpless, and the young lives never given the chance to flourish.
“To remember is to accept a responsibility not just to grieve, but to act,” he said.
The envoy noted that the genocide was carefully orchestrated by the then Hutu extremist government and its militias, calling it one of the gravest crimes against humanity. He further warned that while the tragedy belongs to history, the ideology that fueled it has not disappeared.
“These tools, while powerful for progress, are also being misused to manipulate narratives, fuel division and obscure truth.
“There is a need for stronger legal frameworks, education and accountability,” he said.
Rugema also reflected on the failure of the international community to respond swiftly during the crisis, noting that the situation was initially mischaracterised, delaying intervention. However, he acknowledged that a few voices at the United Nations Security Council spoke out at the time, including Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative, Ibrahim Gambari, alongside Karel Kovanda and Colin Keating.
According to him, the genocide was eventually brought to an end by the Rwandan Patriotic Army, led by Paul Kagame. In its aftermath, Rwanda embarked on a path of reconciliation and national rebuilding, abolishing ethnic identity cards and establishing a government of national unity.
He highlighted the role of Gacaca courts in post-genocide justice, noting that they handled more than two million cases and helped foster healing within communities.
“Perpetrators confessed, survivors spoke, and communities began the long process of healing,” he said.
Despite these strides, Rugema cautioned that instability persists in parts of the Great Lakes region, where extremist ideologies continue to drive violence and displacement.
“Silence in the face of such warnings is complicity,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Fall, represented by Beatrice Eyong, emphasized the need for collective vigilance in preventing future atrocities.
“We gather today to remember and to reaffirm a shared responsibility. In just 100 days, more than one million people were murdered,” she said.
Fall described the genocide as a deliberate and premeditated campaign driven by propaganda and divisive policies.
“Words paved the way for mass atrocities. Despite clear warning signs, the international community failed to listen and failed to act,” he said.
The UN official warned that hate speech and incitement to violence are spreading rapidly in the digital era, urging stronger global action.
“We must do more than remember the dead. We must protect the living by defending truth and rejecting narratives that make violence seem acceptable,” she said.
Eyong further called on nations to strengthen legal systems, uphold international law, and fully implement the Genocide Convention, stressing that preventing genocide is a shared global responsibility.
As the world reflects on the lessons of 1994, the message from Abuja is clear: remembrance must inspire action, and the fight against genocide ideology must remain a collective and urgent priority.
