In Rwanda, an African country marked indelibly by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, a phenomenon of profound forgiveness is taking root. Thirty years on, survivors are not only forgiving their persecutors, they are also forming deep bonds with them, a testament to human resilience and the potential for reconciliation.
The narratives that have emerged are nothing short of extraordinary. Liberatha Nyirasangwe, a septuagenarian from the Karongi district, once declared she would “never forgive” those who killed her family. Today, after participating in community-based sociotherapy, Liberatha has reconciled with one of the perpetrators, feeling “a hint of joy” in her once grief-stricken life.
These acts of forgiveness did not come easily. They grew from a therapeutic process rooted in Rwanda’s sociotherapy program called Mvura Nkuvure, meaning “I heal you, you heal me.” This approach was developed in 2005 and has seen over 64,000 Rwandans complete the therapy.
The method consists of fifteen weekly sessions that build from creating a safe space, to establishing trust, and finally focusing on the future while honoring the past. Emmanuel Sarabwe, a trainer and researcher at CBS Rwanda, articulates the process’s power, noting that genuine remorse from perpetrators and recognition of the pain caused can lead to “closeness and healing contact” within the group.
Rose Mukarusagara’s story embodies this journey towards healing. After surviving an attack where her baby was shot dead and she was gravely injured, she was consumed by hatred. Through sociotherapy, she found her way back to her humanity and forgave one of the men in the mob, Ezechiel Niyibizi. Today, their children walk to school together.
Meanwhile, in one of Rwanda’s reconciliation villages, Mbyo, survivors and perpetrators live side by side, sharing in each other’s lives. Mukaremera Laurence, whose husband was killed by his friend Thacien Nkundiye, has forgiven him.
Rwanda has organized a set of memorial activities, Kwibuka30 under the theme ‘Remember-Unite-Renew’. The commemorative week started on 7 April 2024, and comparable events will occur globally. The term ‘kwibuka’ signifies remembrance. Additionally, the nation will arrange a remembrance walk and a night vigil to pay tribute to the victims and survivors.
President Paul Kagame of Rwanda has underscored the nation’s journey from devastation to progress through choices made for unity and accountability. This message resonated during the Kwibuka30, a series of memorial events where Rwanda remembers and renews its commitment to moving forward.
Relevant articles:
– ‘He killed my sister. Now I see his remorse’: the extraordinary stories of survivors of the Rwandan genocide who forgave their attackers
– Where Rwanda’s genocide perpetrators and survivors live side by side, Al Jazeera English, Mon, 08 Apr 2024 08:21:32 GMT
– VOICES: Surviving the genocide in Rwanda, finding myself in Dayton 30 years later, Dayton Daily News, Sun, 07 Apr 2024 09:00:20 GMT
– Rwanda Rises: 30 years on from the genocide against the Tutsi, Commonwealth, Sun, 07 Apr 2024 22:20:49 GMT