Connect with us

Culture

UNESCO to commemorate 30th anniversary of Rwanda Genocide on Sunday

Published

on

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will on Sunday, April 7th, be part of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide where an estimated 800,000 people, mainly ethnic Tutsis, were killed by the Hutu extremist-led government.

The Rwandan genocide which took place between April to June, 1994, has been variously described as the darkest time for the country, especially the Tutsis and moderate Hutus who were targeted and killed in the most gruesome manner imaginable.

The genocide started after the assassination of President Juvenal Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu, which was blamed on then Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) rebels commanded by incumbent President Paul Kagame, who has consistently denied any involvement.

Over the next three months starting from April 7, 1994, the Hutus perpetrated what is now regarded as one of the worst genocides in the world and within the following 100 days, more than 800,000 members of the Tutsi minority were systematically murdered, while moderate Hutus and others who opposed the killings were also killed during that period.

In a statement by UNESCO on Saturday, the body has decided to commemorate the “International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda,” to mark the 30th anniversary of the genocide.

The United Nations General Assembly had, in 2003,
officially proclaimed April 7 the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

“Commemorating this important anniversary and honoring the many victims and survivors of the genocide, UNESCO will organize a ceremony on 7 April, 2024, at UNESCO Headquarters,” the statement reads.

“The event will be opened by the UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education, Ms Stefania Giannini, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda in France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Mr François Nkulikiyimfura.

“The event will further include survivor testimonies as well as a performance under the direction of Rwandan artist Yannick Ndoli.

“The ceremony is organized in cooperation with the Permanent Delegation of Rwanda to UNESCO and Ibuka France,” it added.

Culture

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

Published

on

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at the mausoleum of the country’s assassinated independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

The police had announced the six arrests late Wednesday and said they were still looking for two more suspects.

Interior Minister, Jacquemin Shabani, said in a statement that during the break-in which occurred on Monday, a case containing a single gold-capped tooth, the only part of the former leader that remained after his assassination, was broken by the vandals.

“We assure that the relic is secure and it is protected,” the minister said, without offering more information.

The return of Lumumba’s tooth from former colonizer Belgium in 2022 had been celebrated around Congo, with the tooth taken around the vast country so people could pay their respects.

Lumumba is widely hailed as the nationalist activist who helped end colonial rule in the DRC and went on to become the country’s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising new leaders, but he was assassinated within a year in 1961.

His body was dismembered and dissolved with acid in an apparent effort to keep any grave from becoming a pilgrimage site.

For many in Congo, Lumumba is a symbol of the positive developments the country could have achieved after its independence but instead, it became mired in decades of dictatorship that drained its vast mineral riches.

A military coup toppled Lumumba, who was arrested, jailed and later killed. His assassination, blamed on separatists, cleared the way for the rise of Mobutu Sese Seko, who ruled the country he later renamed Zaire for decades with support from Western powers until his death in 1997.

His one remaining tooth was kept by the Belgian police commissioner who oversaw the destruction of his body.

The tooth was returned to Congo after the visit of Belgium’s King Philippe, who expressed regrets for his nation’s abuses in Congo when it was a Belgian colony.

Continue Reading

Culture

Miss SA opens up on why she withdrew from Miss Universe pageant

Published

on

Reigning Miss South Africa 2024, Mia le Roux, has opened up on the reasons behind her withdrawal from the Miss Universe pageant which was held in Mexico, where Nigeria’s Chidinma Adetshina was the first runner-up.

While narrating her experience in a video she shared on social media on Wednesday, le Roux said her body was taking so much physical strain.

“Hello everyone, I’m back in South Africa and wanted to reach out to you all. Thank you so much for all of your kind wishes, your support and prayers,” she said in the video.

“I wanted to be transparent with you and share my story. A lot of you would’ve seen the video that I made about vertigo, while I was in Mexico at Miss Universe.

“Vertigo is a condition where it feels like you are dizzy and there’s a sense of the world spinning around you. It’s very intense and can cause major issues with your imbalance.

“Mentally I was very strong, I was ready, but physically, my body was taking strain. I had to even seek medical help in Mexico City. And even after the medical help, my condition still wasn’t improving.”

She added that during the preliminary rounds of Miss Universe, she had continued to push herself but her vertigo intensified and it became unmanageable.

She stated that while she was waiting backstage, she fell repeatedly and couldn’t stand up without support and was not in a position to safely walk on stage.

“It was not easy. As I was not doing it just for myself but for all of you in South Africa,” she said.

“I will continue to serve as your Miss South Africa, to support and uplift those who come after me. With my unbreakable spirit and an exciting year ahead, I will keep fighting for myself and for everyone with dreams and passions. I am so proud to still be your Miss South Africa,” she added.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

Tech3 hours ago

Ghana partners with The Gambia to provide free roaming services

Ghana and The Gambia are in the process of launching free roaming services that will enhance a West African connectivity....

Metro3 hours ago

Zambia: APP leader lampoons PF over pledge to reverse forfeited properties

Leader of one of Zambia’s opposition parties, Advocates for People’s Prosperity (APP), Mwenye Musenge, has criticised the Patriotic Front (PF)...

Sports3 hours ago

Ghanaian winger Fatawu out for season with ACL injury

Ghana and Leicester City winger, Abdul Fatawu, has been ruled out of the rest of the EPL season after suffering...

Culture3 hours ago

DRC authorities arrest six over break-in at Lumumba’s Mausoleum

Police in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) say six people have been arrested over a break-in and vandalism at...

Musings From Abroad7 hours ago

Finnish court imprisons Nigeria’s Simon Ekpa for aiding terrorism

  Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian separatist leader based abroad, has been placed under detention by the Päijät Häme District Court...

Metro9 hours ago

Nigerian Senate confirms influx of terrorists from Mali, Burkina Faso into the country 

The Nigerian Senate has raised the alarm over the influx of terrorists from Mali and Burkina Faso who operate in...

Tech1 day ago

Tanzania to host 6th Ocean Innovation Africa summit in February

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has been selected to host the sixth edition of the Ocean Innovation Africa (OIA) summit from...

Culture1 day ago

Miss SA opens up on why she withdrew from Miss Universe pageant

Reigning Miss South Africa 2024, Mia le Roux, has opened up on the reasons behind her withdrawal from the Miss...

Sports1 day ago

SA football legend Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe passes away

South African football legend, Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe, has passed away at the age of 71 after a long battle with...

Metro1 day ago

Wanted Zambian MP who escaped from prison custody captured in Harare

A fugitive Zambian Member of Parliament (MP), Emmanuel Banda, who escaped from custody at the Chipata Prison in Eastern Province...

Trending