In an interview with InyaRwanda, Ev. Eliane Niyonagira emphasized that Kwibuka is a profound moment of remembering the painful history Rwanda went through during the Genocide against the Tutsi.
She said: “Today we remember. We remember the lives of our loved ones who were killed because of who they were. We remember the silenced voices and the wounds that remain in the hearts of survivors.”
She explained that remembrance is not merely about returning to pain, but rather a journey toward healing and rebuilding. She stated: “Kwibuka is choosing light where darkness once prevailed.”
Drawing from the Word of God in Psalms 34:18, which says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” she said that God is always near to those who are hurting and is able to restore hope and strength.
Ev. Eliane Niyonagira noted that healing does not mean forgetting the past, but learning how to live with it in a way that builds a new life. She said: “Healing is not about forgetting, but about learning to live with the past without letting it define you. It is transforming pain into strength and rebuilding hope for the future.”
She added that remembrance serves the purpose of building a united nation founded on love, peace, and truth: “We remember to build a Rwanda free from division. We remember to protect the truth. We remember so that ‘Never Again’ becomes a reality.”
The Belgium-based evangelist also underlined that remembrance is not a sign of weakness, but of courage, and that healing is a powerful step toward a renewed life. She said: “Kwibuka is not weakness — it is courage. Healing is not forgetting — it is a step toward living again.”
Ev. Eliane expressed solidarity with survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi, affirming that love, humanity, and peace are the foundation for a better future for Rwanda. She reassured the nation, saying: “Take heart, Rwanda, it will never happen again.”
Ev. Eliane Niyonagira Comforts Survivors of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi