The Isōko Centre for Humanity and the Aegis Trust, through the Kigali Genocide Memorial, organized a historic and deeply reflective tour of Rwanda by six former African UN peacekeepers, veterans from Ghana and Senegal who remained in Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi despite the withdrawal of most UN forces.
From August 14–20, 2025, these veterans retraced the painful and transformative history of Rwanda. Their visit was both a solemn remembrance of the past and a beacon of education for the future.
A Journey Through Memory
The peacekeepers began their tour at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where they paid respects to 250,000 victims laid to rest. Walking through the exhibits expanded their understanding of the Genocide beyond what they witnessed during their time in Kigali in 1994.
At Rebero Genocide Memorial, they honoured politicians murdered for refusing to bow to genocide ideology, a reminder that leadership is defined by moral courage even in the face of death.
At Nyamata and Ntarama Churches (now genocide memorial sites), they bore witness to places where thousands of lives were taken in a single day. These sites reaffirmed their duty to ensure that “Never Again” is not merely a phrase, but a lived global commitment.
Visiting ETO Kicukiro and the Nyanza memorial site, the delegation confronted haunting reminders of abandonment; where thousands of Tutsi were left behind when peacekeepers withdrew. These places weighed heavily, underscoring the devastating consequences of indifference.
Yet at the future home of the Isōko Centre for Humanity in Bugesera, they encountered reconciliation, survivors and perpetrators living side by side. This gave profound lessons in humanity’s resilience, forgiveness, and the possibility of rebuilding after devastation. Here, they witnessed how Rwanda’s lessons in peacebuilding are being shared globally to confront not only violence but also the urgent challenges of our time.
The journey also took them to Mount Rebero and the National Liberation Museum Park, where they reflected on the vision and sacrifice that brought Rwanda’s liberation.
Perhaps most moving of all was their reunion at the Hotel des Mille Collines with survivors they had helped rescue 31 years ago. It was a moment of remembrance, gratitude, and human connection that transcended decades.
Engaging Rwanda’s Youth
Throughout the visit, the delegation engaged with hundreds of young people in open conversations about courage, responsibility and humanity. Their message was clear: true greatness is found not in comfort, but in the risks we take for others.
Voices from the Journey
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Major General (Rtd) Clayton Yaache shared:
“This visit has been transformative for us all. We leave Rwanda with renewed hearts, wider perspectives, and a deeper sense of responsibility. The Rwanda we left in 1994/1995 is not the Rwanda we see today. What we see now is a nation reborn, reconciled, and full of hope. We are profoundly grateful to the Isōko Centre for Humanity and Aegis Trust for organizing and hosting us, to the Government of Rwanda for its support, and to the Rwandan people for welcoming us. We pledge to carry Rwanda’s story with us across Africa and the world so that its lessons inspire a future free from genocide.”
Freddy Mutanguha, CEO of the Aegis Trust, emphasized the importance of their return:
“Hosting these remarkable people is both an honour and a responsibility. Their stories bridge the perspectives of survivors, rescuers and liberators, offering a powerful reminder of what it means to stand for humanity in the darkest of times.”
And in her tribute to the veterans, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, Global President of the Isōko Centre for Humanity, said:
“To those peacekeepers who remained, and to the families of those who never returned, we say this: Rwanda remembers. At Isōko we will ensure the World never forgets. Your courage lit a spark in one of the darkest periods of human history. You stood not because you had to, but because it was right. And in doing so, you became part of Rwanda’s story of survival and rebirth.”
A Legacy for the Future
This seven-day journey has not only honoured those who stood for humanity in 1994 but has also inspired Rwanda’s new generation to carry forward the lessons of courage, responsibility and unity.
The peacekeepers departed Rwanda with a renewed pledge to amplify Rwanda’s story, reminding the world of both the devastating consequences of indifference and the extraordinary possibilities of resilience and reconciliation.
About the Isōko Centre for Humanity
In Kinyarwanda, Isōko means source. The Isōko Centre for Humanity is a global hub for peace, rooted in Rwanda’s remarkable journey of post-genocide reconstruction. Based in Bugesera, a region once marked by atrocity and now a model of reconciliation, the Centre unites four pillars: Peace Education, Atrocity Prevention, Healing Peacebuilders, and a Museum for the Future. Building on the Aegis Trust’s quarter century of work, Isōko exports Rwanda’s lessons worldwide, applying peacebuilding to today’s urgent challenges, from identity-based violence to climate change and food insecurity.
