ISSI, PAIDAR commemorate Rwanda’s Liberation Day

Celina Ali

Islamabad: The Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa (CAMEA) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), in collaboration with Pakistan Africa Institute for Development and Research (PAIDAR), on Friday organized an event to commemorate Rwanda’s Liberation Day.

The proceedings, which began with the national anthems of Pakistan and Rwanda, were moderated by Ms. Amina Khan, Director CAMEA.

Speakers included Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI; Ms. Harerimana Fatou, High Commissioner of Rwanda to Pakistan; Muhammad Naeem Khan, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Rwanda; Lt Col Shyaka Kajugiro Ismail, Defence Attache, High Commission of Rwanda to Pakistan; Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman BoG ISSI.

The chief guest on the occasion was Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, President PAIDAR, and the keynote speaker was Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan (MOFA).

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, in his remarks, emphasized the significance of commemorating Rwanda’s Liberation Day, not only as a moment of national pride, but as a tribute to the resilience and strength of the Rwandan people.

He praised President Paul Kagame and Rwanda’s leadership for their critical role in unifying the country and steering it toward progress after the 1994 genocide, which the Rwandan nation courageously ended through its own efforts. Reflecting on global injustices, he noted that the world has witnessed three major genocides in the last three decades– Rwanda, Bosnia, and the ongoing one in Gaza and highlighted the double-standards of the international system.

He commended the growing Pakistan–Rwanda relationship in diverse areas from political to economic to defence, and called for deeper South-South cooperation, underscoring the potential for enhanced engagement between Pakistan, Rwanda, and the broader African continent.

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Director General ISSI, recalled the tragic events of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi community and noted that Rwanda’s Liberation Day stands as a solemn reminder of that painful chapter, as well as a powerful symbol of the country’s journey towards healing, reconciliation, and national transformation.

Ambassador Sohail Mahmood commended Rwanda’s success in fostering inclusive governance, digital advancement, social cohesion, and sustainable development, highlighting its reputation as a model of post-conflict recovery and institutional reform.