### Rwanda: A look at the shadow of the past and contemporary tensions
April 7, 2025 was a date marked by pain, memory and resilience for Rwanda, while the country commemorates the 31st anniversary of the genocide which ravaged the nation in 1994. Under the aegis of Paul Kagame, the Rwandan President, who chose to highlight his speech to the National Memorial of Gisozi not only by a tribute to the victims, but also by a denunciation of critics His country internationally, we dive here in a complexity where the past and the present intertwine in an inextricable way.
### A multiple discourse
Kagame’s words during this commemoration, although deeply rooted in a memorial context, also testify to the always lively tensions in the region of the great African lakes. Using expressions such as “he goes to hell”, the president not only refuses criticism, but he also reaffirms a position of force in the face of a world which, according to him, often seems more concerned about the distribution of responsibilities than by regional peace and security.
This posture can be perceived as a necessity in a context where Rwanda, while facing accusations concerning its role in the east conflict of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), seeks to solidify its national identity and its image on the international scene. In a region marked by centuries of ethnic and political conflicts, Kagame’s words find a relevant echo with a population that has experienced the throes of war and genocide.
### Behavior of Rwandan young people: a future on
Beyond the rhetoric of the president, it is important to note the active response of Rwandan youth in the face of this heavy heritage. More than 2,000 young people participated in a march of memory, a sign that the new generation is determined to understand its history to build a better future. Figures like Nathanael Mugisha illustrate a desire for knowledge and responsibility which may well be the ferment of a deep societal change. This dynamic is crucial, because it reflects a commitment not to repeat the errors of the past, while looking for a new path, lit by memory but turned towards the future.
### Comparison with other countries that have experienced genocides
The way in which Rwanda addresses the commemoration of its genocide offers interesting points of comparison with other countries that have experienced similar events, such as Germany after Holocaust or Armenia with regard to Armenian genocide. While the Germans have openly debated and theorized on their past, integrating this memory into national education and public policies, which has enabled a certain degree of reconciliation, Rwanda, for its part, chooses solidity and patriotism, sometimes at the cost of international compression.
### International resonances: a world in disagreement
Current time is marked by increasing geopolitical tensions. Kagame’s speech, defying sanctions and qualifying criticism of “hate speech”, reflects a position of distrust in front of the globalization of humanitarian values and human rights. Where some leaders are forced to adapt their discourse to increasing concern about social justice and fundamental rights, Kagame rather mobilizes a strong nationalism. This raises the critical question: where do we place the limit between national sovereignty and international responsibility?
### Conclusion: the weight of the memory and the call for action
On April 7, 2025, in Rwanda, was not only a day of memory. It is an intersection, a moment when the lessons of the past come up against the realities of the present. It is less of nostalgia than the will of a people seeking to advance despite the traumas. Commemoration not only makes it possible to cry disappeared, but also to mobilize against stigma and modern injustice, emphasizing the constant challenge for Rwanda to define itself on the international scene while carrying the weight of a tragic heritage.
The path to peace and unity remains strewn with pitfalls, but through this active memory, Rwanda seeks to build not only a true national identity, but also a fortress against the injustices of yesterday and today. It is here that the resilient beauty of humanity resides, capable of learning of pain to build a brighter future.