Speaking on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at a press conference held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, she concluded a week-long series of high-level events focused on the prevention of genocide and related crimes. These gatherings brought together policy experts, academics, civil society, and activists from around the world.
The events, held from November 4-9, aimed to strengthen global efforts to prevent genocide and related crimes, covering critical topics essential to prevention. They included a workshop for women community leaders, an expert consultation on mediation for prevention, and an international conference on ethnicity and prevention.
Commenting on those who portray Rwanda negatively and distort the events following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, Nderitu referred to this as 'the power of genocide' and expressed admiration for Rwanda's extraordinary resilience.
'You know, you are absolutely right when you say that Rwanda was clinically dead after the genocide because nothing was functioning. And I think it's really one of the wonders of this century, that when you talk about Rwanda in this continent, we are talking about a first among equals, a very strong country that has developed very strong leadership,' she said.
In 1994, Rwanda had basically ceased to exist as a nation. A million people lay dead, out of a population of around seven million, because of a perverted genocidal ideology. Millions more were refugees. Every public institution had been destroyed, and the national treasury was looted.
From wounds of Genocide, Rwanda has emerged as a united nation promoting unity and reconciliation. It has become a role model across Africa and globally for good governance, technology, peacekeeping, and women's empowerment.
Nderitu noted the international recognition of Rwandans, who now hold significant positions worldwide, and celebrated Rwanda's resilience as worthy of praise.
'When I hear some of the things that are said, to downplay, for example, the country of Rwanda, I think to myself, this is the power of genocide. That it has such intergenerational power,' she noted.
Nderitu emphasized that genocide execution and denial involves mass mobilization, warning that denial and misinformation are often perpetuated by genocide deniers.
'So we cannot stop the naysayers, but it's important to understand the reality of where all these naysayers come from because some of them are actually informed by genocide deniers. [...] If we fail in prevention, then what happens is that we have to rely on accountability,' noted Nderitu.
Nderitu also expressed concern over genocide fugitives evading justice and residing in UN member states.
'I've issued a number of statements calling them out. [...] You shouldn't be protecting them. You should find a way to either try them or bring them home,' she said.
'We want the world to know that whoever is in your country and is a genocidaire or is being indicted for this crime, you need to hold them accountable,' added Nderitu.
Reflecting on criticisms against Rwanda, she noted that 'doomsayers' exist when success is evident.
'So it's important that I do not think that the kind of things that are said about the country will stop. You know in Kiswahili we say that if you see young children throwing stones at a tree, then you should know that that tree has fruits. There is something good about that particular place,' said Nderitu.
'And there are always all these naysayers. So if you imagine how many people are convicted for this crime, how many people are genuinely remorseful, and how many people out there are tarnishing Rwanda's name, and so many of them being genocide deniers. And we know that because they even hold conferences, they write papers, they peer review each other. We know that. So consistently trying to bring down what Rwanda is doing. But we are there to provide another voice. I can speak with an unbiased voice and say this is what we are seeing from out there,' added Nderitu.
She commended Rwanda for not only surviving the genocide but also for its willingness to share its experience of resilience and recovery.
Professor Gregory Stanton, who developed the "10 Stages of Genocide" framework, praised Rwanda's homegrown solutions that prevent its dark past from defining its future.
'I praise this country. You in Rwanda are an example to the whole world. Rwanda, like Germany, has actually faced its past and is now a leader in this whole effort to overcome ethnicity, to overcome nationality, to reaffirm that for all of us, we are part of the same human race,' he noted.
Freddy Mutanguha, CEO of the Aegis Trust and Director of the Kigali Genocide Memorial, emphasized that hosting these discussions in Rwanda provides the world an invaluable opportunity to learn and deeply understand the severity of the genocide against the Tutsi.
Théophile Niyitegeka
