On July 7, 2026, the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy participated in the event marking the 32nd anniversary of Rwanda Liberation Day – Kwibohora32 – which took place in Warsaw, commemorating the end of the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
For 32 years, the Rwandan people have honored
“the courage and visionary leadership of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), led by His Excellency President Paul Kagame, for the liberation of Rwanda and laying the foundations for unity, peace, stability, and the remarkable socioeconomic transformation of the country.”
[source: https://www.rwandainpoland.gov.rw/info/info-details/kwibohora32-celebrated-in-warsaw-poland]
At the invitation of His Excellency the Ambassador of Rwanda, Prof. Anastase Shyaka, attending the ceremony were the Secretary General and the Director of the Office of the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy.
During the meeting, Prof. Krzysztof Górski and Dr. Witold Mazurek conveyed to His Excellency the Ambassador their congratulations to – and appreciation of – the President of Rwanda, who leads the Rwandan Patriotic Army, and to the Rwandan people for saving and rebuilding their country and their national identity. May true patriotism and unity forever serve as a guarantee of dialogue for Rwanda’s development and security.
Furthermore, the Secretary General of the Academy expressed his appreciation to His Excellency the Ambassador of Rwanda for the cooperation initiatives in the fields of science and education developed during his five-year term, noting the Rwandan government’s commitment to the development of education and the transfer of skills, as demonstrated by the signing of the Toruń Declaration by the Rwandan Ministry of Education during the First World Copernican Congress (February 21, 2023, in Toruń), followed by the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between the Copernican Academy and the Rwandan Embassy in Poland (April 4, 2024). The Secretary General also expressed his hope that cooperation would be strengthened through the continuation of scientific initiatives planned by the Nicolaus Copernicus Academy with the participation of Rwandan scientists and representatives of the academic community.
The ceremony took place at the Hilton Warsaw City Hotel to mark 61 years of official relations between Poland and Rwanda. The guest of honor representing the Polish government was Mr. Wojciech Zajączkowski, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. He was accompanied by Undersecretaries of State Prof. Andrzej Szeptycki from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Mr. Michał Baranowski from the Ministry of Development and Technology.
The ceremony was accompanied by a performance showcasing Rwanda’s heritage of dance, presented by the Ballet Icyeza troupe. The event contributed significantly to the effective promotion of Rwanda’s national traditions.
