‘I COULD see the faces of my relatives who had been killed,’ says Mediatrice Musengimana (pictured), as she recounts the sleepless nights in the years following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Her children were among the hundreds of thousands of people murdered during the 100 days of unrestrained violence.
‘I had nightmares in which I saw the faces of the people that I killed,’ says Bernard Gakiga, who was jailed for his role as one of the thousands of perpetrators of the genocide. After his release, he continued to live with loneliness and fear. He was afraid of meeting the survivors against whom he had committed unspeakable crimes.
Almost thirty years on, the trauma of the genocide continues to cast a long shadow over Rwandan society and dominate the lives of survivors. It had a huge and lasting impact on those directly involved or affected as well as their descendants, particularly those born from rape. Surveys have shown that around a third of survivors continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and severe depression.
Attitudes towards mental health have come a long way in recent years but a level of stigma persists around seeking mental health services. In Rwanda, with such a large proportion of the population dealing with trauma and long-term psychological challenges, the need for mental health support is enormous. Yet while a majority of people are aware of the services that they could access, only a very small proportion do. People still have a reticence to seek counselling individually.
Anger, mistrust, and persistent damaging stereotypes can thrive in a society divided by conflict. New research by global peacebuilding charity, International Alert, shows how, in these circumstances, community healing projects can challenge biases, support reconciliation, restore social ties and provide hope for a more peaceful future.
In regions across Rwanda, group therapy, dialogue, joint income generation schemes and cultural and selfless activities are being proven to help survivors, perpetrators, ex-combatants and their descendants to come to terms with the extreme violence they have seen. Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) has been shown to improve wellbeing not only on an individual level, but also for communities as a whole.
Participants in these community initiatives have repeatedly reported an increase in trust, solidarity and positive interactions across social divides. Cross-community healing has helped foster a shared sense of identity and willingness to work towards peaceful conflict resolution.
Justice remains an important issue. The Gacaca court system that was used in response to the genocide emphasised truth and reconciliation. A heavy burden was placed on survivors in cases where perpetrators, many of whom are now completing their prison sentences and reintegrating into the community, did not apologise. The issue of reparations for destroyed or looted properties remains divisive.
For many years the fear of retribution has been a stumbling block to fair and inclusive justice. Restorative processes, including group therapy and dialogue between survivors and perpetrators, can prove an effective solution.
Peacebuilding efforts need to recognise the importance of this mental health work. Holistic approaches should incorporate MHPSS and tangible socio-economic benefits for the community into violence prevention. Peaceful dispute resolution relies on safe and inclusive spaces for dialogue and lasting healing. Support for collective discussion builds bridges between differing perspectives and social groups thereby avoiding resentment.
Bernard found that meeting survivors was a crucial step in creating trust. Only by having open conversations across painful divides was he able to seek forgiveness for the crimes that he had committed and be forgiven. ‘I used to be held back by fear,’ he says. ‘If people don’t engage in open dialogue, they can’t reach mutual trust.’
Mediatrice initially found it difficult to accept the idea of unity and reconciliation. But ongoing interactions through community healing projects eventually increased a feeling of solidarity. Now, she fearlessly joins perpetrators in social and agricultural activities, something that would have previously seemed impossible. As she says: ‘Today, we live in harmony.’
Pacifique Barihuta is the Programme Manager for International Alert Rwanda