Dear Friend,
This year marks the Twentieth Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide that resulted in the death of more than 800,000 Rwandans. It is a fitting occasion to look back on the progress my fellow Rwandans have made and the healing that must still be done.
It also reminds us of the fact that elements of this terrible tragedy are still with us and that the region is still in the grip of violence. While the Genocide was seen around the world, unfortunately most people believe the problems ended when the cameras went away. Instead, it led to a constant state of turmoil and unrest in the Great Lakes Region of Africa since that time.
In many important ways, Rwanda bears no resemblance to twenty years ago. Women compose nearly half of the Rwandan government, we enjoy unprecedented economic stability and more Rwandans enjoy healthcare than ever before. Kigali is clean and orderly. Mass killings inside of the country have stopped.
The ongoing issue is the high cost of this progress, including extreme political repression, continued violence, and a growing culture of fear. Only a small percentage of Rwandans enjoy the vast majority of the benefits. In fact, only 20% of the people get 80% of the healthcare. President Kagame's cronies are rewarded with beautiful houses and good jobs in Kigali, while the rest of the country slides into an orderly, disciplined poverty. The people are told what they can grow and who they can sell it to. And the local defense forces monitor their conversation and watch their movements.
Rwandans, even in the diaspora, risk their lives and freedom if they criticize President Kagame. Victoire Ingabire is in prison because she ran for political office. Others have been killed for their bravery. Journalists who question the government's actions are never heard from again. Kagame has reached beyond Rwanda to South Africa, Europe and the United States to kill or threaten those who question his policies or actions.
And in neighboring Congo, the Rwandan controlled M23 militia has killed and raped thousands while looting conflict minerals to pay for President Kagame's executive jets.
My fear is that President Kagame's grip on the nation is ever tightening and sending us back to violence. I and my fellow Rwandans need your help. Violence in Rwanda has been lying like a a dormant volcano.
Rwanda can do better. Rwandans need to learn patterns of behavior that do not revert to killing each other every twenty years. We need to gather and discuss our past and how to create a future where Hutu and Tutsi and Twa, young and old, anglophones and francophones can all share peace and share power. We must share the responsibility for building a new Rwanda on a solid foundation of peace. If we hope to have a future with sustainable peace, we need to include all Rwandans not just the President's friends.
My goal this year is to continue to educate the international community about how we can all help to create a sustainable peace.
Even outside of Rwanda we are still in conflict. If we cannot work and talk and play together outside the country, how can we expect those still in Rwanda to heal without help? The Hotel Rwanda Rusesabagina Foundation will grow our talks about truth and reconciliation and hold more community meetings to further the peaceful dialogue among Rwandans and people who care about Rwanda's future. But I need your help to create dialogue among the Rwanda diaspora.
Much like we've seen with Holocaust survivors, I have found that the Rwandans who survived Genocide can not really talk about it to the younger generation born after those horrible times. Our organization must help my fellow Rwandans dialogue with other survivor families. We need to learn how to survive without perpetuating the hatred and violence. This year we are organizing several Diaspora Dialogues for Rwandans to talk to each other across generations about what happened and how to make Never Again for Rwanda mean Never Again for all communities.
For all this I need your
help. Please join my Foundation in promoting dialogue and peace for all people. After 20 years we are still trying to find our way forward. You can help.
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