[Nigerian officials say a suicide car bombing near a church on Easter Sunday killed at least 36 people and wounded dozens more in the country’s north.]
BURUNDI :
RWANDA :
Remembering the Rwandan genocide
April 9, 2012/www.thehindu.com
BANGALORE,
The High Commission of Rwanda in India, through its Honorary Consul office in Karnataka, observed the 18 Commemoration of Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda here on Sunday.
The event was held in line with the United Nation’s resolution that calls April 7 as the “Day of reflection on the Rwandan Genocide”. This year’s commemoration was held under the theme, “Let’s learn from our history to shape a bright future”.
The 1994 genocide against the Tutsi tribe claimed over a million lives over a period of 100 days.
The commemoration began with a peace march called “Walk2Remember”, in which African students and others participated. This was followed by a programme at Bangalore University where, among other things, video testimonies by survivors of the genocide were played. The programme was organised jointly by Bangalore University.
Williams Nkurunziza, High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda, said that despite the dark days, the country has risen and made “unbelievable progress”.
“Between 2000 and 2011, the economy of Rwanda has expanded by 300 per cent. The level of poverty has been slashed by 12.5 per cent since then. The economy is expected to remain on a robust upward trajectory for many years. Moreover, 50 per cent of our population constitutes those born after 1994,” he added.
Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor N. Prabhu Dev said, “We are looking at the possibilities of coming up with a medical university and a traditional university in Rwanda. The university will be an extension of Bangalore University.”
Rwanda: Locals in Sweden Pay Tribute to Genocide Victims
9 April 2012 /The New Times
Stockholm-Poignant testimonies and moving tributes by children were the backdrop of a sombre commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi on Saturday in the Swedish Capital, Stockholm.
Rwandans and friends of Rwanda thronged a conference hall at St. Emmanuel Church in downtown Stockholm where the ceremony, jointly organised by the Embassy and the Rwandan community in Sweden, took place.
Reflecting on this year’s theme-Let us learn from our History to shape a bright future- Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Nordic Countries, Venetia Sebudandi, said “Rwandans look forward, committed to unity and development, refusing to be defined by the past but taking in the lessons of this sad history in order to do things differently and forge a bright future”.
The Ambassador recounted Rwanda’s journey since the end of the Genocide, noting that “in addition to the remarkable efforts and positive achievements in addressing unity and reconciliation, justice and re-establishing peace and security, Rwanda has also made tremendous efforts in socio-economic development, in the improvement of the quality of life of her citizens as well as building the economy based on a vision that guarantees Rwandans a prosperous future. In the last 5 years alone, poverty levels were reduced by 12%”.
Sebudandi castigated countries where genocide suspects continue to roam freely while authorities refuse to prosecute them or extradite them to Rwanda under the pretext that they lack appropriate legislation.
Eugene Bushayija, a long-time Rwandan resident of Sweden warned against complacency in the fight against genocide negation and revision.
He said Genocide deniers hide behind a veneer of harmless conventional debate to spread ideas that form one of the biggest threats to our society today.
“Negationist are often analysts, academics, journalists that use their status to set up websites, write negationist books, and articles to spread their untruths into the mind of governments, and society,” he said.
A genocide survivor testifying at the ceremony underscored the importance of commemorating.
“We remember our loved ones as a way of sending a message to genocide deniers that we will not allow them to revise our history,” said Louise Umutoni.
The president of the Rwandan community in Sweden, James Gatsinzi, stressed the importance of unity among Rwandans abroad, saying divisions were a key ingredient of the tragedy that befell Rwanda in 1994.
An international commemoration organised by the Rwandan Embassy which will include Swedish government officials, diplomats and civil society will take place in Stockholm on April 11.
Renowned British journalist and author, Linda Melvin, will be one of the speakers at the event. It will also feature a mini- exhibition on the genocide and post-genocide Rwanda organised by the Embassy of Rwanda.
Sweden-14 times the geographical size of Rwanda-is home to a sizable Rwandan community spread out across its vast territory.
RDC CONGO:
Gen. wanted by ICC over DRC clashes
By ALFRED TUMUSHABE & RISDEL KASASIRA / www.monitor.co.ug/Posted Monday, April 9 2012
Mbarara/Kampala
The International Criminal Court is pressing the DR Congo government to arrest Gen. Bosco Ntaganda.
Gen. Ntaganda, the former rebel commander and now a general in the Congolese army, defected from the government forces and attacked Congolese army posts at the weekend amid rumours of his imminent arrest for alleged war crimes.
The fighting between forces loyal to the reneged and government forces yesterday forced thousands of Congolese to flee into Uganda. Kisoro RDC Ahmed Dhoka confirmed that thousands of Congolese refugees entered the district on Saturday.
Afraid of home
The UPDF 2nd Division spokesperson, Capt. Robert Kamara, said fighting had subsided but the refugees were still reluctant to return home.
“Militia of Ntaganda attacked DR Congo government forces near Bunagana on the Congo side and overran them. The government forces were reinforced and they later repulsed the militia,” he said yesterday evening.
“The situation normalised and UPDF is working with security officials on the other side to take the Congolese back but they are still reluctant, fearing more attacks,” Capt. Kamala said.
Kisoro District Chairperson Milton Bazanye said some of the refugees were passing through ungazetted points.
Eastern DR Congo has since the presidential elections last year been a hot bed of skirmishes between militias and the government forces.
Officials from the Office of the Prime Minister said between 70 and 100 Congolese have been entering the country every week since October last year.
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