On 25 April, Aegis CEO Freddy Mutanguha spoke via video at the Kwibuka 30 event held in Vilnius, Lithuania, to commemorate 30 years since the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Opening with thanks to the Rwandan Ambassador in Lithuania, the Head of Global Affairs at the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry and the DG of the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania, Mutanguha emphasized the crucial role of genocide memorials for survivors and society at large.
Highlighting that memorials serve as places of remembrance, healing, and education, he quoted Elie Wiesel’s remark that “to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time,” underscoring the importance of preserving victims’ memories.
Stressing the significance of education in preventing future atrocities, Mutanguha cautioned against creating “clever killers” through education which fails to address values. He advocated for education that touches “both heart and mind,” such as the peace and values education program first developed at the Kigali Genocide Memorial.
The Aegis Trust’s CEO also called for action beyond remembrance, urging the audience to “reaffirm our commitment to never forget, to never remain silent, and to never allow such atrocities to happen again.”
He concluded by expressing appreciation for potential partnership between the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania and the Kigali Genocide Memorial, saying, “We are open for collaboration and happy to provide any support needed for the success of this collaboration.”
