PAM-Rwanda Chapter Mobilizes Youth and Community for Africa Liberation Day 2026: A Call for Unity, Sustainable Resources, and Vigilance
On Saturday, May 16, 2026, the Pan African Movement (PAM) – Rwanda Chapter officially launched its preparatory activities for Africa Liberation Day 2026.
The pre-celebrations were marked by a massive, special Umuganda community work held in Gikomero Sector of Gasabo District, on a hill overlooking Lake Muhazi.
This collaborative effort drew a diverse crowd, uniting local leaders, security organs, parliamentarians, university students, and the youth.
Aligning with the African Union’s designated theme for the year—“Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”—the event heavily emphasized environmental conservation and the sharing of vital resources.
Eugene Dusingizumuremyi, Country Director for Water For People in Rwanda, urged citizens to protect the Lake Muhazi Catchments and highlighted water as a critical unifier. “Our unity in Rwanda wouldn’t be possible without sharing water as something that unites us. It also wouldn’t be possible if we don’t share it with Africa,” he stated.
Epimaque Twagirimana, Vice Chair of PAM Rwanda, echoed this sentiment, calling on citizens to “strive to get clean water, hygiene, and sanitation, but also protect the environment”.
He envisioned a continent where “an African should ideally be able to leave here and travel all over Africa without any hindrance”.
Recognizing that this is not yet a reality, he noted, “That is why we are always looking for solutions that unite us. We constantly think about what we can do that unites us as Rwandans and as Africans, while also giving ourselves dignity”.
Beyond environmental goals, the event served as a powerful reminder of Pan-African solidarity.
Bayasese Bernard, the Executive administrator of Gasabo District, praised the strong turnout as a massive sign of unity, urging Rwandans to spread this solidarity across the continent because “we must understand that as Africans, we have the solutions within us”.
The Role of the Youth in Agenda 2063
A significant portion of the day was dedicated to empowering the next generation.
PAM Rwanda Youth Commissioner Davis Gatabazi highlighted that while Rwanda routinely engages in Umuganda, this specific gathering was elevated to serve as a pre-celebration of African Liberation Day, ensuring the ideology of Pan-Africanism does not fade away.
Gatabazi pointed to Rwanda’s progressive open-door policies as tangible proof of its commitment to African unity.
“If Rwanda has opened doors for all African countries to come and study in Rwanda, it is a first sign that Rwanda is receptive to each and every African,” he explained.
He highlighted the country’s visa-on-arrival policy as a tool designed “to give an African an opportunity that Rwanda is open” despite the tragedies of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Gatabazi delivered a stirring plea to the youth regarding their heritage: “Please internalize, know our history, and please learn our history and know it so that we continue to learn from our past, the history of Rwanda, the history of Africa, to be the very citizens of Africa that we want to be. And the most important thing is not, you know, learning, but putting in practice what we’ve learned from Rwanda”. He was speaking to International students who are pursuing their studies in Rwandan Universities.
During this Event, the Guest of Honour Hon. Murora Beth delivered a strong message warning the youth against the dangers of substance abuse and human trafficking.
“No youth who is drunk or high on drugs can be of any use to themselves or to the country,” she warned, adding that “Youth must beware of being deceived into human trafficking abroad”.
Echoing these calls for vigilance and youth leadership, Ms. Iragena Diane, a student from East African University, shared her perspective during an interview with TOP AFRICA NEWS.
Expressing deep appreciation for the Pan-African movement and the country’s leadership, she emphasized the boundless potential of the younger generation.
“As the youth, we have to continue, we have to know that we all have this ability so that we can achieve everything,” she said, encouraging her peers to join the Pan-African youth movement to achieve “a big thing.”
Addressing the very real threat of human trafficking mentioned by Hon. Murora Beth, Ms. Diane offered practical advice to young people who are frequently targeted by fraudulent overseas job offers and fake foreign scholarships, such as scams promising education in Canada.
“Most of us, I think we use social media, so why can’t we first check if this is a true thing?” she asked.
She urged her fellow youth to critically evaluate these offers and verify them through official organizations to avoid falling victim to traffickers, stating, “What you can do is to first check and first know and be sure of what you are going to do.”
To conclude the impactful day, PAM Rwanda pledged Rwf 500,000 to provide health insurance for vulnerable residents in the Gikomero Sector. Hon. Murora Beth praised the Gikomero Umuganda as a model for other communities, declaring, “When we talk about Africa, we must start with ourselves as Rwandans. What we do here is what we must take to the rest of Africa”.
While the continent will officially celebrate Africa Liberation Day on Monday, May 25, 2026, Rwanda will hold its primary celebrations and parliamentary discussions on Sunday, May 24, to prevent scheduling conflicts with the start of the workweek.
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