This declaration was made on May 4, 2024, during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, held for the first time in the city of Bruges, Belgium.

In his statement, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Rwanda in Belgium, André Bucyana, emphasized the importance of genuine remembrance. He urged people to acknowledge the lives lost in the Genocide against the Tutsi, the suffering of survivors, and the ongoing efforts to combat genocide ideology and denial through education and public awareness.

Bucyana pointed out that despite the genocide occurring in 1994, many perpetrators, including leaders, soldiers, and Interahamwe members, continue to evade justice. The persistence of such actions underscores the ongoing struggle against genocide ideology, even in countries like Belgium, where some individuals remain unrepentant.

Highlighting the necessity of pursuing justice, particularly in cases where crimes are still being committed or supported, Bucyana stressed that Belgium, as a signatory to the international convention on preventing and punishing genocide since 1948, is obligated to prosecute, extradite, or try perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

"The responsibility to prosecute and extradite all individuals in this country that Rwanda issued arrest warrants for is not only a legal obligation but a moral imperative," stated Bucyana.

Ernest Sagaga, President of IBUKA in Belgium, emphasized Belgium’s role in prosecuting and convicting genocide perpetrators but stressed the need for the city of Bruges to establish a memorial as a symbol of remembrance and a deterrent against future genocides.

"We request that a memorial be erected here in the city of Bruges. This memorial would serve as a symbol of recognition of the Genocide and would play a role in preventing and combating genocide denial, contributing to the promotion of remembrance and education," Sagaga stated.

In an interview with IGIHE, the Mayor of Bruges, Dirk De Fauw, expressed the city’s commitment to collaborating with Rwanda in remembrance efforts to ensure that genocide does not recur elsewhere in the world.

"It is essential for the city of Bruges to participate in commemoration activities because we want [genocide] to never happen again anywhere in the world. We want to demonstrate that actions that undermine human dignity will not be tolerated anywhere," De Fauw said.

Yvette Umutangana, one of the organizers of the 30th commemoration of the Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, in Bruges, urged the city’s leadership to ensure that the historical significance of the Genocide against the Tutsi is acknowledged and preserved for future generations.

Umutangana praised Rwandan nationals and friends from various Belgian cities for their commitment to remembrance efforts.

In Belgium, every year on April 9th, all genocides are remembered and honored by the international community. In 2020, the United Nations declared April 7th as the International Day of Reflection on the Genocide Against the Tutsi, aiming to ensure that the genocide is not forgotten or denied anywhere on Earth.

Walk to remember

Commemoration talks

Ernest Sagaga, President of IBUKA in Belgium.

Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Rwanda in Belgium, André Bucyana.

Yvette Umutangana, one of the organizers of the 30th commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.