Rehabilitation and Reconciliation for Genocide Ex-Prisoners in Rwanda

To facilitate a smooth and effective reintegration of genocide ex-prisoners after their sentences, psychological rehabilitation is very critical. This support encourages genocide ex-prisoners to reconnect with those they offended as well as their families and the community at large.

This step is relevant and a necessity in Rwanda, as approximately 20,000 prisoners convicted of genocide crimes perpetrated during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, including masterminds, are expected to be released in the coming years. In addition, many genocide convicts have already been released, integrated into their communities, and live alongside genocide survivors.  

In January 2025, CARSA, together with its partner Compelled By Love (CBL) an Australian faith-based organization and Muhanga District, organized a unique Empower-Rehabilitation Workshop for 36 participants, including genocide ex-prisoners, their spouses, and young people from genocide-affected families. The workshop took place in the Cyeza Sector of Muhanga District.

Photo of Dusengumuremyi Joseph, genocide ex-prisoner imploring in front of the Empower participant and the local leaders.

Dusengumuremyi Joseph, a 63-year-old man who was just released two years ago, is one of the participants in this seven-day workshop. He says the lessons he learned helped him to better comprehend the gravity of the crime of genocide and its consequences and to understand that the next step for Rwandans in the journey of unity and resilience is not to hide his guilt or continue to cover up his role in the genocide.

“I am standing before you today to ask for forgiveness for crimes I committed during the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994. I killed my neighbors and friends. I acknowledge my crimes and humble myself before all of you, especially Genocide survivors,” implored Dusengumuremyi Joseph, genocide ex-prisoner in front of the Empower participant and the local leaders.

Joseph participated in the killing of the Tutsi in his neighborhood of Muhanga, he was sentenced for 15 years in jail by a Gacaca Traditional Court. Yet, his wife didn’t know the reason for his imprisonment as she didn’t believe that her husband had committed any crime and that led her to always argue with victims' families.

Joseph opens up his heart and says “I'm tired of always saying that they lie to me; those lies have stayed in me for a long time and I even lied to my wife.”  

After attending the 7-day Empower-Rehabilitation Workshop, he expresses that the lessons he learned, have empowered him enough to tell the truth about what happened and decided to seek for forgiveness as the way to co-exist in peace with victims' families. He also made a commitment to teach the younger generation about his experience in Rwanda tragedy to prevent its replication. 

“The workshop has led me to open my heart and move to tell the truth about what I did, especially the history of tragedy I have gone through, the misery I have caused, and the genocide I have committed.  I decide to be giving a true and accurate information to our children because I acknowledge that we made a significant step in reconciliation journey and today no need of keep telling lies or pretending,” Expresses Joseph.

On the last day, Joseph’s wife who was with him in the workshop, says that she is excited by how her husband affirms that what he was convicted of in Gacaca court was true and his commitment to unfold the hidden truth about his crimes to his family, local leaders and even to the victims’ families. Finally, she sees the possibility of reconciliation and restore relationship with survivors and the community at large.

“As he accepts telling the truth, and I forgive him,” declares Joseph’s wife in the workshop after seeing her husband acknowledge his involvement in the genocide.

To Joseph, Empower-Rehabilitation Workshop is the right space to reconcile with his family and those he offended.

“Now, I’m going to start a great journey of telling the truth to our children, teaching them that the bad history that characterized our country will never happen again, and to be humble enough to let those genocide survivors understand that I also regret what I had done and ask for forgiveness.” Joseph is committed.

In front of their own family members, local authorities, and other community members who participated in the workshop one by one ex-prisoners came forward to recount their crimes. Their crimes ranged from killing the Tutsis, looting properties, raping, and luring victims to their homes under the guise of protection only to kill them.

The next step for Joseph and his fellows is joining the Resilience Community Groups (RCGs) that operate in their cells where they will get the support of linking them with victims’ families in person and facilitate seeking forgiveness to be able to journey together for building a relationship, social cohesion and sustainable economic wellbeing through existing initiatives, such as Cow for Peace, self-reliance training, saving, sustaining small business ideas with seed capital, etc.

Supporting ex-prisoners and reconnecting them with those they offended is part of CARSA’s approach to bringing together different people in the journey towards healing and resilience, implemented in line with its Reconciliation and Trauma Recovery in Rwanda.

Providing former perpetrators on their release with rehabilitation, and reentry guidance as well as connecting them with genocide survivors and their families lays a solid foundation for a more reconciled, peaceful, and resilient society.

Joseph and his wife sharing the testimony