Survivors Fund (SURF) has transferred ownership of the Kamonyi Centre, a purpose-built site for the preservation of the memory of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, as told by survivors, to Rwanda’s National Commission for the Fight against Genocide (CNLG). This historic transfer took place today (5th March) in the District of Kamonyi, 45 minutes from Kigali.
In handing over the keys to the building Françoise Lemagnen, Chief Executive of SURF, thanked the District of Kamonyi for providing the land and its support, as well as the British public, in particular the family of Nicholas Roth, for funding the construction of the centre. She said, “SURF has finally found the right partner to take on the ownership and mission of the centre – CNLG. It is particularly significant in this 20th anniversary year that CNLG take up this important project and that they are considering the possibility of housing the Gacaca records at Kamonyi. I wish them well in this task and offer them sincere thanks on behalf of all those who have contributed to the Kamonyi Centre.”
In its signed transfer letter to the Executive Secretary of CNLG, SURF said, “In particular, we are encouraged that CNLG is exploring further the possibility of using the building to archive the documentation from Gacaca, and to work towards the original vision for the Centre to be used for the research and documentation of the genocide.”
“Ultimately the funding that Survivors Fund (SURF) secured to make possible the construction of the Centre was on the proviso that it were to be dedicated for the purpose of the “… preservation of the memory of the genocide in Rwanda, as told by survivors, in order to help prevent a reoccurrence of genocide; and for the collection and archiving of material related to the history of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.” We commend CNLG for working towards realising that goal.”