Citizens in South Sudan Commemorate Genocide - AllAfrica.com

Close to thirty Rwandans working in Africa's newest state, South Sudan, were joined by government officials and UN representatives to remember the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Alice Buhinja, a Rwandan working in South Sudan said that: "While remembering the Genocide, we examine what caused it, recognize the brutality with which it was conducted, and the immeasurable consequences of its aftermath on Rwandans, and the entire international community."

Buhinja said a new generation of young Rwandans, the nation's most precious resource, is growing in a country completely different from that of their parents.

"These young Rwandans need to know their history in order to fully understand and commit to a society free of the discrimination, divisionism and genocide ideology that almost destroyed Rwanda, and instead work together to build a united, democratic and prosperous Rwanda," she added.

Kuol Manyang Juuk, the Governor of Jonglei State, where the commemoration event was held, commended President Paul Kagame and other members of RPF for their intervention to stop the Genocide when the rest of the world had ignored it.

"We have a similar conflict but the Genocide in Rwanda was of high magnitude in a very short time. God created us all and we all have the right to live, but some people think they have authority to take our lives away," Manyang said.

He added: "There was no safe place for the Tutsi; not in church, not in schools and not in UN premises. The rest of the world should acknowledge the selfless work that RPF did to rescue innocent civilians."

Another Rwandan in South Sudan, Vincent Gasana blamed the colonialists for brewing hatred amongst Rwandans through their "divide and rule" policies.

"Today, Rwanda's economy is growing, investment and tourism are on the rise, and relationships with neighboring countries are well," he said.