Naveed Ahmed Khan Photos Ramzan Mughal
ISLAMABAD – The High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda commemorated its 31st Liberation Day with a vibrant and emotional ceremony in Islamabad on Friday night, honoring the East African nation’s extraordinary transformation from genocide to prosperity, and reaffirming the deepening bonds of friendship and cooperation with Pakistan.
The event was led by Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, H.E. Harerimana Fatou, and attended by a distinguished gathering of political leaders, diplomats, and military officials. Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, alongside Governor of Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Turkmenistan Atadjan Movlamov, Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Foreign Secretary (Africa), and other representatives from Pakistan’s political, diplomatic, and military spheres.
In her keynote address, Ambassador Harerimana paid a heartfelt tribute to the heroes of Rwanda’s liberation struggle, particularly the members of the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA) who led the country out of one of the darkest chapters in its history—the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
“We honour the brave men and women of the Rwanda Patriotic Army who took the bold decision to fight the oppressive regime that led the country to genocide,” she said. “They paid the highest price to restore the dignity of Rwandans and their right to life. Liberation Day marks not only the end of the genocide but the rebirth of a nation committed to unity, reconciliation, and inclusive development.”
Ambassador Harerimana reflected on Rwanda’s transformation over the past three decades, highlighting the country’s emergence as a model of post-conflict recovery and sustainable development. She cited recent economic milestones, noting that Rwanda’s GDP growth rose from 7.8% in 2023 to 8.9% in 2024, making it one of the fastest-growing economies in Africa. Rwanda is also internationally celebrated as Africa’s cleanest and greenest country, and a global leader in gender representation, with women occupying 63.7% of parliamentary seats—the highest in the world.
She outlined Rwanda’s ambitious development roadmap under Vision 2050, which aims to transform the country into an upper-middle-income economy by 2035 and a high-income nation by 2050, driven by sustainable economic growth and improvements in quality of life.
“Rwanda has also become a hub for international diplomacy and global sporting events,” she added, listing recent and upcoming events such as the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022, the Inter-Parliamentary Union Summit 2019, Women Deliver 2023, the UCI World Cycling Championships in Kigali this September, and even Formula 1 in 2026, which Rwanda is set to host.
Turning to foreign relations, Ambassador Harerimana emphasized the growing bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and Pakistan across multiple sectors including defence, health, education, trade, and technology. She expressed enthusiasm about expanding collaboration into new areas such as agriculture, tourism, artificial intelligence, sports, gender empowerment, and cultural exchange.
“The documentary film presented here tonight is a powerful testimony to the friendship between our two countries,” she remarked, reinforcing the message of unity and shared aspirations for peace, development, and innovation.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, in his address as chief guest, praised Rwanda as a beacon of resilience and visionary leadership. “Rwanda is a unique success story in the annals of Africa and the Global South,” he said. Recalling his meeting with the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, he described him as “the strongman of Africa,” attributing Rwanda’s remarkable progress to his firm leadership and national vision.
The event was not only a diplomatic occasion but also a celebration of Rwandan culture and identity. Guests were treated to a captivating cultural performance that highlighted the rich heritage and artistic vibrancy of Rwanda. Traditional music and dance performances added color and emotion to the evening, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Attendees also engaged in informal networking, discussing avenues to expand bilateral trade and cooperation in emerging fields such as climate resilience, youth innovation, and clean energy. The presence of a diverse mix of diplomats, government officials, academics, and business leaders created a dynamic atmosphere for dialogue and collaboration.
As the evening concluded, both Rwandan and Pakistani representatives expressed confidence in the growing momentum of their relationship. The Liberation Day celebration not only honored Rwanda’s past struggles and current achievements but also symbolized a shared vision for a future defined by peace, dignity, and mutual prosperity.
In commemorating this significant national milestone, Rwanda’s High Commission in Pakistan sent a strong message of hope, unity, and forward-looking cooperation, affirming that despite past tragedies, nations can rise, heal, and lead by example.
