Speaking on May 30, 2026, during the Igihango cy’Urungano youth forum, which brought together young people from across Rwanda, Mrs. Kagame emphasized the importance of remembering the young men and women who were killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and learning from the country’s history.
She explained that the legacy of colonialism played a significant role in introducing ethnic divisions among Rwandans, who had previously shared a common identity. She urged young people to focus on overcoming such divisions and to guard themselves against genocide ideology and other forms of extremism.
Mrs. Kagame highlighted that after the Genocide against the Tutsi was stopped, Rwanda chose reconciliation rather than revenge. She noted that some individuals who fled the country after participating in the genocide, as well as groups such as the FDLR, continue to promote division and hostility toward Rwanda, but have failed in their attempts to destabilize the country.
She encouraged youth not to be influenced by family members or others who promote genocide ideology, stressing that loyalty to Rwanda and its future should come before narrow interests. She challenged young people to appreciate the progress Rwanda has made and to question narratives spread by those who seek to discredit the country and its leaders.
According to Mrs. Kagame, today’s youth have a responsibility to preserve Rwanda’s peace, security, unity, and development. She urged them to showcase the country’s achievements, reject ethnic divisions, and embrace the principle of Ndi Umunyarwanda as a foundation for national identity.
She also encouraged young people to deepen their understanding of Rwanda’s history by visiting genocide memorials and seeking accurate historical knowledge. Emphasizing that Rwanda has always had citizens willing to defend it, she described today’s youth as the guardians of Rwanda’s future.
During the event, Mrs. Kagame also commended filmmaker Marie Clementine Dusabejambo for producing the film Ben’Imana, which recently won awards at an international film festival in France.
Other Key Messages from the Forum
Minister of National Unity and Civic Engagement Dr. Jean Damascène Bizimana explained how genocide ideology was deliberately constructed over decades to divide Rwandans and ultimately facilitate the Genocide against the Tutsi. He urged youth to understand the difference between past governments that promoted division and the current government that promotes national unity.
Gaspard Harerimana, a senior military technology official and AI specialist, shared his personal story of surviving the genocide and later joining the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA). He encouraged young people to learn Rwanda’s history, reject genocide ideology, and contribute to protecting the country’s achievements.
Jean Nepo Abdallah Utumatwishima noted that while the decades preceding the genocide were marked by teachings that fostered division, the past 32 years have focused on promoting national unity. He called on youth to defend historical truth and challenge any attempts to distort Rwanda’s history.
The central message of the forum was that Rwanda’s younger generation must become custodians of the country’s unity, peace, and development by understanding its history, rejecting genocide ideology and ethnic divisionism, and actively contributing to the nation’s future.
