Rwanda

There's a Rwandan proverb: "A message is given to many, but those who are meant to understand, understand." There's always a subtext in Rwanda. You don't have to resort to brutal language. People understand. ~ Alison Des Forges

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a country in Central and East Africa and one of the smallest countries on the African mainland. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Quotes

• I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil.
  • Romeo Dallaire, as quoted in "Dallaire and Ngeze" (1 March 2016), by Mark Zuehlke, Legion: Canada's Military History Magazine

• There's a Rwandan proverb: "A message is given to many, but those who are meant to understand, understand." There's always a subtext in Rwanda. You don't have to resort to brutal language. People understand.
  • Alison Des Forges, as quoted in "Killer Songs" (17 March 2002), by Donald G. McNeil, Jr., The New York Times

• I am sometimes asked to name the thing that most scares me about Rwanda. My answer is this: It frightens me to death when my countrymen are not talking. If a Rwandan is brooding you never know what he is thinking.
  • Paul Rusesabagina, An Ordinary Man (2006), Chapter 11

• "For the responsibility incumbent on him in this genocide in Rwanda and which he cannot discard either on others or on the whole of the national community, he (M. Mitterrand) is part of the sinister club of hell surnames of the 20th century, of those genocidaires who are synonymous with absolute abomination."

  • Jean-Pierre Thiollet, Hallier Edernellement vôtre, Neva Editions (2019), p. 71. ISBN 978-2-35055-273-6.

External links

• Encyclopedic article on Rwanda on Wikipedia