KIGALI, Rwanda — As hundreds of individuals convicted for their roles in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi near the end of their prison sentences, Rwandan officials are stressing that acknowledging past atrocities is the fundamental first step to national healing and personal reintegration.
On Friday, February 13, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, Rwanda’s Minister for National Unity and Civic Engagement (MINUBUMWE), addressed 653 genocide convicts at the Nyamasheke Correctional Facility in the country’s Western Province. The address was part of a specialized reintegration program designed to prepare inmates for their return to society.
In a powerful speech to the soon-to-be-released inmates, Minister Bizimana emphasized that genuine reconciliation is impossible without taking personal accountability.
“Accepting responsibility for your role in the Genocide against the Tutsi is the first step toward healing from the harmful ideology that fueled it,” Bizimana told the crowd.
He further outlined the stark reality of what true reintegration requires, noting that a former convict must be able to openly admit: “The genocide I committed was inhumane. I betrayed humanity. I committed genocide, and genocide must never happen again.”
The reintegration initiative, spearheaded by MINUBUMWE, aims to equip returning citizens with the civic values necessary to rejoin their communities peacefully. Since the program’s expansion in March 2025, a total of 1,184 inmates—comprising 1,081 men and 103 women—have completed the mandatory training.
Local officials echo the national government’s stance, noting that successful reintegration is a two-way street requiring both the convict’s honesty and the community’s support. Narcisse Mupenzi, Mayor of Nyamasheke District, urged the returning individuals to actively participate in community life rather than withdrawing. Isolation, he warned, could cause individuals to regress into old, destructive ideologies.
For the inmates, the program appears to be making an impact. Speaking on behalf of the trainees, Thadeé Nzeyimana from Huye District expressed that the initiative has instilled core values that will serve as a guiding compass upon their release.
At the close of Friday’s session, the participating convicts made a formal pledge to reject genocide ideology, actively champion national unity, and collaborate with their local communities to safeguard the peace and progress Rwanda has achieved over the last three decades.
