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https://theconversation.com/30-years-after-genocide-rwandas-older-generations-fear-a-return-of-ethnic-tensions-but-youth-feel-more-united-225726>
"It’s 30 years since a genocide ripped through Rwandan society, leaving up to a
million Tutsi and non-extremist Hutu dead.
Every year in early April, the country enters a 100-day period of commemoration
during which Rwandans are asked to remember and reflect on historical divisions
between the country’s main ethnic groups: Tutsi, Hutu and Twa. This is done
under the banner of Ndi Umunyarwanda, loosely translated as “I am Rwandan”.
This post-genocide unified ideology follows the governing Rwandan Patriotic
Front’s interpretation of the country’s history. It views Tutsi, Hutu and Twa
as a form of socio-economic division rather than being rooted in ethnic
differences.
Some western scholars, such as Filip Reyntjens, Alison Des Forges and Catharine
Newbury, dismiss this interpretation of history. They argue that ethnicity was
always an important aspect of Rwandan society and not a colonial construct.
In my view, based on 16 years of research on Rwanda and its public policies
post-genocide, they miss an essential aspect of why Ndi Umunyarwanda exists. It
was designed as a mechanism for the country to move on from its past divisions
and prevent a repeat of the genocide.
During recent fieldwork in Rwanda (December 2022 to March 2023 and August to
September 2023), I paid particular attention to whether Ndi Umunyarwanda had
taken hold in the new generation of Kigali’s residents. I attended multiple
social gatherings with Kigali’s growing middle class of Rwandans between the
ages of 24 and 35.
During conversations with 50 millennials and Gen Zs, it appeared that the
government’s wish for the youth to accept Ndi Umunyarwanda had been effective.
Attendees had little desire to bring up what they classified as their parents’
divisions and instead saw each other as fellow Rwandans.
In my view these conversations illustrate the success of Ndi Umunyarwanda and,
more broadly, the Rwandan government’s desire for post-genocide social
reconstruction.
But among Rwanda’s older generation, the fear of a resurgence of ethnic
tensions remains alive. Many within the Rwandan government are concerned that
not enough time has passed to foster a unified identity that can fully expel an
ideology that wrought so much carnage.
In particular, the government is acutely sensitive to the activities of the
militia group, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, based in
neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The 2,000-strong armed force
includes people known to have been perpetrators in the genocide."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
