Rwandans in Egypt gathered in Cairo, on Tuesday, for the 22nd anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

The Rwandans were joined by different officials from the diplomatic corps accredited to Egypt from different African countries and the European Union.

The Rwandan Ambassador to Egypt, Sheikh Saleh Habimana, in his speech, said the commemoration of Genocide against the Tutsi gives hope to Genocide survivors.

“We are here to honour more than a million innocent lives lost in only one hundred days, to remember one hundred days of sleepiness nights, days in which the Tutsi had to pay for own death by a bullet or face death by slaughter,” Habimana said.

He called on the Government of Egypt to use the two platforms it has in the security council of the United Nations and the African Union Peace and Security Council to help ensure that, under no circumstance is any country allowed to shelter Genocide perpetrators.

Speaking to Saturday Times, he said: “Egyptians have been there for African independence and preservation of African identity before, stay the course and advocate for Rwanda to have justice by bringing all Genocide perpetrators to book.”

Amb. Hazem Fahmy, the Egyptian vice minister for foreign affairs and the Secretary General of Egyptian Agency for partnership and development, commended the Rwandan people for turning around the country.

“Everyone can be happy for the Rwanda’s progress after Genocide against the Tutsi. Rwanda was recently ranked among the safest countries in the world where people walk alone at night, according to the Gallup Global Law and Order 2015 Report,” Fahmy, who was the guest of honour, said.

He said Rwanda not only remains one of the cleanest countries in the world, but also is one of the fastest growing economies that his government will always feel proud to support.

Ethiopian Ambassador to Egypt Mahamoud Dirir said the journey of the Rwandan people has proved to the rest of the world that ‘never again’ (for genocide) in any part of the world is the right message.

The ceremony included the lighting of candles, a minute of silence to remember Genocide victims, and screening of a documentary film showing how the Genocide was prepared, as well as the achievements in the country, 22 years later.