Reconciliation on Psychosocial Well – Being of Mushaka People after Genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda

Abstract

Reconciliation has become a high-level concern for countries emerging from intrastate armed conflict as well as for international development assistance in post-conflict societies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of reconciliation on psychosocial well-being of the Mushaka people after genocide against Tutsi. The study was guided by the truth theory. The study used qualitative approach and a Phenomenology design to show how reconciliation was used to deal with psychosocial problems after genocide in Mushaka parish. The objectives of this study were: to examine the experiences that Mushaka people had gone through before the project of reconciliation; to determine the challenges encountered during reconciliation among the Christians in Mushaka Parish; to explore strategies that they used to promote reconciliation and the state of psychosocial well-being; and to expand the role of counseling for effective reconciliation and to promote healing through reconciliation. Qualitative tools have been used to gather information from both genocide perpetrators and survivors. A Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 5 survivors: 5 perpetrators and 4 priests from the target population of 480 participants from Mushaka parish. Data were collected using focus group discussion, interviews with both groups of survivors and perpetrators, and an interview guide for Priests. Using thematic analysis, the researcher analyzed the findings. The findings showed that there was poor reconciliation among survivors and perpetrators in Mushaka parish before Mushaka Reconciliation project. The reconciliation process was challenged by a lack of telling truth to both sides, a lack of the trained mediators or counselors, fear, and mistrust. The suspension over the sacraments in order to promote Gacaga Nkirisitu was one of strategies used to reconcile the Mushaka people. The other strategy was to gather both survivors and perpetrators to discuss their differences, charity works, and solidarity funds. The true reconciliation needed the counseling sessions in order to help people open up and be effective. This study recommends the collaboration of all institutions and the recognition of the role of psycho-spiritual counseling in promoting reconciliation.