UN Members called to condemn hate speech

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA has urged member states of the United Nations (UN) to continue condemning persistent hate speeches and all forms of discrimination that could lead to the recurrence of genocide in any country.

The Minister for Constitution and Legal Affairs, Dr Damas Ndumbaro, made the call yesterday during the commemoration of the 31st Anniversary of the Rwanda Genocide in Dar es Salaam.

He reminded attendees that the genocide in Rwanda, which claimed around one million Tutsi lives, was incited by ill-intentioned rhetoric, including through mainstream media.

“In this respect, I call on the international community to detect and condemn hate speech and discrimination and to work vigorously to address and mitigate the root causes that undermine social cohesion,” he said.

Dr Ndumbaro affirmed that Tanzania would continue working closely with the international community to build a world grounded in justice and dignity for all.

“On this day of commemoration, let us pledge to work together to build a more resilient future for people everywhere. Our reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda must go beyond one country and one moment in history,” Dr Ndumbaro said.

He added: “We must take a hard look at the present, as each government does all it can to prevent such atrocities from ever happening again.”

He noted that the world is currently witnessing dangerous trends of increasing racism, xenophobia and intolerance, which have led to the proliferation of hate speech and incitement to violence.

In that regard, Dr Ndumbaro called on governments worldwide to foster tolerance, unity and understanding as key pillars for peaceful coexistence among citizens.

The 1994 Rwanda Genocide was triggered by extremist elements of the majority Hutu ethnic group, who targeted the minority Tutsi and moderate Hutu.

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It remains one of the most horrific events in the history of Africa and the world at large.

He said the commemoration provided an opportunity for UN member states and other international bodies to renew their commitment to preventing future genocides.

Dr Ndumbaro also emphasised that the event served to honour the victims, comfort the survivors, and pay tribute to all those who played a pivotal role in ending the genocide.

He commended the government and people of Rwanda for demonstrating resilience in recovering from the horrific aftermath of the genocide, while promoting unity and equality for sustainable development.

“In the wake of genocide, Rwanda remains united in reconciliation, having achieved remarkable progress in becoming a more peaceful and prosperous nation,” said Dr Ndumbaro.

Earlier, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, General Patrick Nyamvumba, defined genocide as a calculated and systematic attempt to eradicate an entire group of people based on their identity.

He recalled that for more than 860 years, Rwandans lived peacefully together until 1885, when colonial powers introduced ethnic divisions following the Berlin Conference, which saw Rwanda incorporated into German East Africa and later Belgian colonial rule.

He explained that by the time of independence in 1962, these divisions had taken deep root, ultimately leading to the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

General Nyamvumba said Rwanda remains committed to combating genocide ideology and called on the international community— particularly academic institutions to take a principled stand against revisionist narratives that distort historical truth.

He also extended gratitude to Tanzania for its unwavering support, from hosting the 1993 peace talks to accommodating the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha.

For his part, the Acting Interim UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Martin Ordit, sounded the alarm over the rise of hate speech on digital platforms, including social media.

“Digital technologies are being weaponised to further inflame hate, stoke division and spread lies,” said Mr Ordit.

He stressed the need for concerted efforts to combat hatred and discrimination in all their forms.

The theme for this year’s 31st Commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi was “Remember, Unite and Renew”, underscoring the global call for collective efforts to prevent a recurrence of such a horrific tragedy.