In the heart of New Delhi, the Qutub Minar stood adorned with the vibrant hues of the Rwandan national flag, a poignant symbol of solidarity with the Rwandan people on the solemn occasion of the UN International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This tragic event claimed the lives of 8,00,000 individuals, leaving an indelible mark on history.
Representing India at the 30th commemoration of this genocide in Kargil was Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi from the Ministry of External Affairs. In a statement issued by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the MEA, it was expressed, “In a display of unity with the Rwandan populace, India illuminated the Qutub Minar today, in observance of the UN International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi represented India at the 30th anniversary event in Kigali.”
Delving into the Rwandan genocide, also referred to as the genocide against the Tutsi, it unfolded amidst the Rwandan Civil War spanning from April 7 to July 15, 1994. Over the course of approximately 100 days, members of the Tutsi minority, along with some moderate Hutu and Twa, fell victim to the atrocities perpetrated by armed Hutu militias.
While the Rwandan Constitution cites a death toll surpassing one million, the precise number of casualties remains shrouded in uncertainty. Various estimates posit the number of Tutsi deaths to be in the range of 5,00,000 to 8,00,000, though definitive figures elude comprehension.
The genesis of the conflict traces back to 1990 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), predominantly comprising Tutsi refugees, launched an incursion into northern Rwanda from their sanctuary in Uganda, igniting the flames of the Rwandan Civil War. For three years thereafter, neither faction could claim decisive ascendancy. In an endeavor to broker peace, the Rwandan government under Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana inked the Arusha Accords with the RPF on August 4, 1993.
Presently, Secretary (Economic Relations) Dammu Ravi of the Ministry of External Affairs embarks on a diplomatic mission encompassing Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya from April 7 to April 12, 2024. Accompanying him is AS (E&SA), Puneet R Kundal. On Sunday, April 7, Dammu Ravi engaged in discussions with James Kabarebe, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, and Eric Rwigamba, Minister of State for Agriculture, in Kigali.
This visit by the Secretary (ER) underscores India’s steadfast commitment to fortifying its bonds of amity with Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya, whilst sustaining the momentum of substantive engagements between India and African nations, subsequent to the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member of the G20.