Chief Ombudsperson says Rwanda cannot escape its painful history

Rwanda’s Chief Ombudsperson, Nirere Madeleine, has stated that "Rwanda cannot escape the painful history it went through", emphasizing the importance of using this past as a permanent lesson in the fight against genocide ideology, which remains a threat both within the country and across the region.

She made the remarks on April 10, 2025, during the commemoration of the 31st anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, where the nation reflected on the tragic legacy of genocide ideology that began during colonial times and eventually led to one of the darkest chapters in Rwanda’s history.

"Rwanda cannot escape the painful history it went through, but that history must guide us. The Genocide against the Tutsi began with an ideology—and today, this remains a serious issue, especially when you observe what’s posted on social media, not just in Rwanda but also across the region and globally," Nirere said.

She warned that signs of genocide ideology are still visible in various places, and stressed the importance of teaching this history to all citizens—especially the youth and those who try to distort or deny the truth about what happened.

Nirere underscored that genocide ideology had been nurtured over time through education systems and national policies that dehumanized a portion of the population, denied them their rights, and paved the way for mass killings based solely on identity.

"The genocide was a result of an ideology taught over many years—it became part of the curriculum. People were denied justice and the right to live freely in their own country, " she said.

She reiterated that the Office of the Ombudsman is committed to protecting human rights and ensuring justice for all, particularly in guarding citizens’ unalienable right to belong to their country.

Prof. Ismael Bukanani, a lecturer at the University of Rwanda, echoed Nirere’s message, saying the hatred that fueled the genocide was deeply rooted in colonial policies introduced by Belgian authorities. He explained how colonizers divided Rwandans along ethnic lines, presenting Tutsis as oppressors and Hutus as the oppressed.

He recounted how, under President Kayibanda Grégoire, discriminatory laws institutionalized ethnic exclusion, with Tutsis being denied land, education, and opportunities. Teachers even used math problems that symbolically targeted Tutsis to plant hatred in children’s minds.

"For example, a teacher would ask: ‘If there are five Tutsis and three are killed, how many are left?’ That’s the kind of messaging children grew up with, " Prof. Ismael Bukanani explained.

Under President Juvénal Habyarimana, the situation worsened as Tutsis were increasingly pushed out of schools, jobs, and society—until the genocide exploded in 1994.

Despite the horrific past, Prof. Bukanani acknowledged the progress Rwanda has made since the RPA-Inkotanyi halted the genocide and restored peace. He praised the country’s efforts to rebuild and promote unity, but urged continued vigilance.

"Rwanda has emerged from the darkness into the light. But we must protect that light. There are still people—both within the region and abroad—who hold onto the same ideology that led to the genocide, " he said.