Published: April 15, 2025
MONROVIA – Tears flowed down the face of Rwanda’s Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi, as she relived the horrors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, describing chilling scenes of bodies rotting in the streets, devoured by dogs, and the unimaginable cruelty that unfolded across her homeland.
The emotional breakdown came during a media engagement at the One UN House in Monrovia ahead of the 31st anniversary commemoration of the genocide, held on Tuesday, April 15, at the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Ministerial Complex. Hundreds of Liberians and foreign dignitaries gathered to remember the more than 800,000 lives lost in one of the most horrific episodes of the 20th century.
Visibly shaken as she responded to a question from The Liberian Investigator, Ambassador Mbabazi paused, her voice cracking under the weight of memory.
“If you see the video, you will see dead bodies all over the streets, and dogs eating them,” she said, choking on tears. “People of value were treated like animals.”
The 1994 genocide, which lasted roughly 100 days, was not a spontaneous eruption of violence, she emphasized, but the culmination of decades of ethnic marginalization and orchestrated hatred—decades that included targeted killings in 1959, 1963, 1973, and the early 1990s before the cataclysmic events of April 1994.
“Never again should Rwanda return to that dark chapter of our history,” she said solemnly.
Rwanda’s Path to Recovery
Ambassador Mbabazi pointed to Rwanda’s remarkable journey of recovery and national rebirth under President Paul Kagame, crediting homegrown solutions and deep introspection for the country’s transformation.
“While external help is important, we realized that the solutions must first come from within,” she said.
That self-reliance has powered Rwanda’s post-genocide progress—reflected in an average GDP growth rate of about 8% and sweeping reforms in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and governance.
She highlighted that reconciliation, once thought impossible, has become a defining element of the new Rwanda.
“Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa now live together in peace. Perpetrators have returned to their communities, and many have reconciled with survivors’ families,” she said. “The children of perpetrators are not blamed for the sins of their parents. Everyone is given equal opportunity to thrive.”
She added that some former perpetrators now lead civil society organizations promoting healing, while survivors are supported through government initiatives, reintegration programs, and inclusive community engagement.
Liberia Commended
Ambassador Mbabazi praised Liberia for its own post-war recovery, saying the country is on a commendable path.
“Liberia is doing an amazing job in reconciliation. I see strong commitment from the current leadership to deliver for its citizens,” she said. “Yours was 15 years of war; ours was five. Yet look at your progress.”
She applauded Liberia’s strides in education, health, agriculture, and national security—and noted growing academic and diplomatic ties between the two nations. Over 4,000 Liberian students, she revealed, are currently enrolled in Rwandan universities.
Ending on a diplomatic note, she pledged Rwanda’s support for Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
“Diplomatically, we depend on one another. Rwanda supports Liberia’s candidacy and stands ready to collaborate in promoting global peace and security.”
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