Prince Charles of Wales (United Kingdom) is among the chief guests in CHOGM 2022 held in Rwanda. According to CHOGM 2022 Protocols, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall on Wednesday had to visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial. There, they laid a wreath in honor of the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, and sign the memorial guest book. From there, Prince Charles was expected to travel to Bugesera for several engagements, including visits to Ntarama Genocide Memorial, as well as Mbyo, Mayange, Bugesera reconciliation village and an agricultural project.
While arriving at Mbyo Reconciliation Village in Mayange/Bugesera District, His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales & the royal team were warmly welcomed by the Rwanda tradition songs and dance style they used to receive & welcome the Rwandan King/Monarch, Among the welcoming group who were happily singing and dancing for the 73-years-old Royal included the three groups that harmoniously and peacefully live and work together in the Reconciliation Village.
These groups include the perpetrators and survivors of genocide against the Tutsi in the year 1994 plus the returnees who had fled the country since 1959. The reconciliation village is composed of 350 families with a total sum of 400 village members. The village was constructed through the joint effort of the government of Rwanda and Prison Fellowship Rwanda as the main Partner that has built 8 villages of the same kind in different parts of the Country.
The Village Story begins in 2003 when the government of Rwanda encouraged Unity and reconciliation through the gacaca courts and the presidential pardon that led to the release of many genocide prisoners who had confessed their sins and asked for forgiveness, there arose Bishop Gashagaza Deogratias, Bishop Ruchyahana John and Reverend Gahigi Etienne who pioneered the Unity & reconciliation movement through preaching the power of confession to genocide perpetrators and preaching the power of forgiveness to Genocide Survivors. Currently Bishop Ruchyahana and Bishop Gashagaza are appointed as commissioners in the Unity and reconciliation Commission that later turned into a Ministry of national Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE) in Rwanda.
Nkundiye Thacien is a 71-year-old genocide perpetrator who was imprisoned for 8 years since 1995 to 2003. He is currently among the living testimony of unity & reconciliation in Rwanda particularly in Bugesera where he lived even before 1994, he shared his story to Prince Charles in three parts on how the genocide ideology was inculcated in Hutus & their leadership for years, planned and executed that consequently led to much regret, fleeing the country and loss of lives to some Hutus while Mukabyagaju Jeannette is also a female genocide survivor who narrates her story to Royal during the 1994 genocide, she suffered a lot, lost relatives and properties as well. Fortunately, the two village members concluded by thanking the Government of Rwanda & Prison Fellowship Rwanda contribution towards the social & economic transformation of the village and the entire community of Rwanda. Both of these two living testimonies of unity and reconciliation excited the prince in that he was keen to ask several questions related to their social & economic development and these were answered well but also the village members offered a weaved basket and a monarchical rod to the heir of UK
