Rédaction Africa Links 24 with BBC
Published on 2024-04-07 08:27:57
Victoria Uwonkunda, a BBC journalist, shares her personal journey of returning to her homeland of Rwanda, 30 years after fleeing the horrors of the 1994 genocide. Born and raised in Rwanda, she left at a young age with her family to escape the violence and settled in Kenya, then Norway, before finally making London her home. The opportunity to travel back to Rwanda to make a documentary on the healing process was both exciting and nerve-wracking for her, as she was unsure of what she would find and how she would react to the country and its people after all these years.
The genocide in Rwanda resulted in the loss of many family members for Victoria, like many Rwandans who suffered during those dark days. The genocide saw 800,000 people killed in just 100 days by ethnic Hutu extremists targeting the Tutsi community and their political opponents, with retaliation from Tutsi forces as well. Emotions ran high as Victoria landed in Kigali, hearing her native language being spoken around her and recalling the chaos and fear that engulfed the city during the genocide.
During her short trip, Victoria visited significant places from her past, including her primary school and her family’s former home in Kigali. The pain of not being able to find her family’s house brought back memories of the day they had to flee for their lives, leaving behind the life they knew. Standing in front of the closed gate of the house, she remembered the carefree moments spent with her family and the heart-wrenching departure that tore them apart.
Revisiting the journey her family took to seek safety in Gisenyi, Victoria found their house still standing, a place that had sheltered many people during the genocide. Meeting with surviving relatives, including her cousin Augustin, who she had been separated from during their escape to DR Congo, brought a sense of reunion and reminiscence of happier times before the turmoil.
Victoria also encountered survivors of the genocide, like Claudette Mukarumanzi, who bravely shared her harrowing experiences of multiple attacks and the scars she carries to this day. Meeting with one of those responsible for her wounds, a former police officer named Jean Claude Ntambara, shed light on the difficult but remarkable journey towards forgiveness and reconciliation that some survivors and perpetrators have embarked upon.
The story of Claudette and Jean Claude, who have come together in a process of forgiveness, showcases the resilience and healing that some individuals have achieved despite the deep scars left by the atrocities of the past. Initiatives for reconciliation, such as a project involving cattle and joint caretaking, have emerged to promote dialogue and understanding between perpetrators and victims in Rwanda.
Although Rwanda has made significant progress in healing and unity, there are still challenges and criticisms to address, including limited freedoms and dissent suppression. Victoria’s journey back to Rwanda allowed her to make peace with her past, heal her wounds, and come to terms with the changes in her homeland, which no longer feels like home but still holds a special place in her heart.
As Rwanda continues its journey towards reconciliation and healing, individuals like Victoria, Claudette, and Jean Claude inspire hope for a future where collective and individual traumas can be acknowledged, embraced, and healed, paving the way for a more peaceful and united community. Through shared stories of forgiveness and resilience, Rwanda offers a powerful example of how wounds of the past can be transformed into sources of strength and unity for the future.
Read the original article on The Namibian
