July 1st: Rwanda Independence Day
Rwanda Independence Day: 1st July.
Rwanda was granted independence on 1 July 1962.
Emancipation from the Belgian colonial rule, following emancipation from the Tutsi monarchy.
49 years have passed now, and Rwandans are still struggling to come to terms with their history.
Some want to celebrate the Independence Day, but the leaders in power do not see the independance day as an important milestone in the Rwandan history.
Enorm differences of opinion exist today within the so-called Rwandan elite about how to interpret the independence and the struggle which led to it during the late 50s and early 60s. Shame!
Anyway, history will always remember the pioneers of democracy and independence, among them the two former Presidents of the newly-born Republic of Rwanda: Dominique Mbonyumutwa and Gregoire Kayibanda.
It is hoped that Tutsi and Hutu will raise above their ongoing petty and harmful grievances and agree to work together and build a country every Rwandan will feel proud of.
Are we ready for that challenge?
Chief Editor
Jojo
James Ntibanyurwa
Innocent Nsengiyumva
Abubu
1 comment
Why Kigali regime tends to dissmiss July,1st 1962 ,All this is to tell younger generation wrong history of our country,the hatred do not allow them to recognize those heros Mbonyumutwa Dominique and others who struggled for true liberation of all Rwandans(hutu,tutsi twa) from Belgians oppression! this is the true liberation and not the so colled one of July 04 where we remember the success of RPF coup d’etat after making Arusha peace agreement fail and install its tricky divisionist power dominated by a small selfish group.
Conclusion as you cannot mix oil and water, July 1st 1962 and july 4th 1994 are not to mix to confuse Rwandans! the reason is july 1st 1962 is for common interest of all Rwandans,but since July 4th 1994 only a group of selfish rwandans is illegally dominating the rest of Rwandans.
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