ISLAMABAD: The High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda on Friday night celebrated the 31st Liberation Day with a ceremony that highlighted the country’s remarkable journey of resilience and transformation, as well as the growing friendship with Pakistan.

Addressing the gathering, Fatou Harerimana, who is Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, paid tribute to the sacrifices and determination that paved the way for Rwanda’s liberation on July 4, 1994, after the genocide against the Tutsi. She described the Liberation Day as the rebirth of a nation determined to overcome the legacy of division and build an inclusive and prosperous society.

“We honour the brave men and women of the Rwanda Patriotic Army who took the strong decision to fight the oppressive regime that led the country to genocide,” Ambassador Harerimana said, addressing her guests, including ambassadors, members from armed forces and friends of the embassy. “They paid the highest price to restore the dignity of Rwandans and their right to life.”

Reflecting on Rwanda’s progress, she noted that the country had become one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies with GDP growth rising from 7.8 per cent in 2023 to 8.9 per cent last year. Rwanda was widely recognised as the cleanest and greenest country in Africa and led the world in women’s representation in parliament with women holding 63.7 per cent of seats.

She outlined Rwanda’s ambition under Vision 2050, which aimed to elevate the country to upper-middle-income status by 2035 and high-income status by 2050 through sustainable economic growth and improved quality of life. Rwanda has also emerged as a hub for international conferences and sporting events, including hosting CHOGM 2022, the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2019, Women Deliver 2023, the upcoming UCI World Cycling Championships in Kigali this September and even Formula 1 in 2026.

Ambassador Harerimana emphasised the strong relations between Rwanda and Pakistan, spanning defence, health, education, trade and technology. She expressed optimism about expanding cooperation into areas such as agriculture, tourism, culture, sports, artificial intelligence and gender empowerment.

“The documentary film presented here is a testimony to the friendship between our two countries,” she remarked.

Former Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, who was chief guest at the ceremony, described Rwanda as a unique success story in the annals of Africa and the global South. He recalled his meeting with the president of Rwanda calling him the strongman of Africa and attributing Rwanda’s progress to him.

A captivating cultural performance was the highlight of the event.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2025