Report

The parliamentary delegation of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie (APF), which attended the 30th anniversary of the commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide in Kigali, Rwanda from April 6 to 7, 2024, is honoured to present its report.

The delegation was composed of Francis Drouin, Member of Parliament (Canada) and President of the APF.

BACKGROUND

The President of the Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency Paul Kagame, invited members of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) to Kigali, Rwanda, on April 7, 2024, for the official ceremony commemorating the genocide against the Tutsis 30 years ago. OIF Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo invited stakeholders of the Charter of La Francophonie, the APF and the four agencies (the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie, TV5Monde, Senghor University and the Association internationale des Maires francophones) to take part in the ceremony alongside her to express the entire Francophonie’s solidarity with the people of Rwanda.

COMMEMORATION OF THE GENOCIDE

In Kigali, a high-level delegation from la Francophonie, led by Secretary-General Louise Mushikiwabo, took part in the official commemoration. The members of the delegation, which included Caroline St-Hilaire, OIF Administrator; Désiré Nyaruhirira, Special Advisor; Nicolas Guinard, Director of Political Affairs; Francis Drouin, President of the APF; Yves Bigot, Director General of TV5Monde; Sorin Mihai Cimpeanu, President of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie; and Hany Helal, President of Senghor University, attended the national commemoration ceremonies at Kigali Arena on April 7, 2024, in the presence of many heads of states and representatives of the international community. On April 8, the delegation visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial and laid a wreath of remembrance.

Mr. Drouin also met with Julie Crowley, High Commissioner for Canada in Rwanda, to discuss relations between the two countries.

CONCLUSION

By taking part in the commemoration, the members of the Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie wished to honour the memory of the victims and reaffirm their commitment to peace, dialogue between peoples and countering hate speech and misinformation.

TRAVEL EXPENSES

Travel expenses associated with this activity were covered by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Respectfully submitted,

Marie-France Lalonde, MP

Chair, Canadian Branch of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie