On April 12, 2025, the ASA team visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial as part of the national commemoration marking the 31st anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi.
During the visit, they were guided through the memorial's exhibits, which chronicle the events leading up to the genocide and the devastating consequences of hate-driven politics under the First and Second Republics. They also listened to powerful survivor testimonies and witnessed Rwanda's extraordinary journey of recovery and reconciliation.
The visit concluded with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial's mass graves, honoring the more than one million lives lost.
Christian Salifou, Managing Director of ASA International (Rwanda) Plc, described the visit as a meaningful act of remembrance and solidarity with the people of Rwanda and the international community.
He expressed gratitude to those who riskedâ€"and sacrificedâ€"their lives to save others during the genocide, and stressed the importance of preserving historical truth and educating future generations to ensure such horrors are never repeated.
Gerard Mpyisi, Chairman of ASA International (Rwanda) Plc, expressed profound sorrow that the genocide was planned and executed while much of the international community remained silent.
He lamented the continued denial of the genocide by some global leaders even after it was stopped by the RPF Inkotanyiâ€"many of whom chose to mischaracterize it as "ethnic conflict" rather than recognizing it as genocide.
'It's heartbreaking that some of the people who denied the Genocide against the Tutsi were representatives of major international organizations, including the United Nations at the time,' Mpyisi noted.
He urged all Rwandans, wherever they may be, to remain vigilant and active in ensuring that such atrocities are never repeated. He also called for national unity in confronting and rejecting groups like the FDLR, which continue to propagate genocidal ideologies.
Several ASA International (Rwanda) staff who are genocide survivors shared emotional testimonies of the trauma they endured and the resilience they've shown in rebuilding their lives.
Jean Nepomuscene Ndagijimana, a survivor, recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing the murder of his relatives as a young child.
'I was only seven years old during the genocide. I didn't fully understand what was happening, but I saw it all,' he shared. 'While hiding with my mother, I saw my uncle, Rutagarama, struck on the head with a machete. I became the eldest in my family after we lost 23 members of our extended family.'
Despite the trauma and the burden of caring for his younger siblings at such a young age, he managed to continue his education with the support of Genocide Survivors Assistance Fund (FARG). Today, he is a husband and father, and his siblings have also gone on to build meaningful lives.
The visit left a profound impact on the ASA team, strengthening their resolve to honor the memory of the victims, confront genocide denial, and promote a culture of peace, remembrance, and unity.
IGIHE
