Bearing Witness in Rwanda: A Retrospective

By Fleet Maull

 In the face of such profound suffering, mindfulness provided a pathway to resilience and meaningful engagement.

Emmanuel’s Story

Emmanuel pressed his finger into a bullet wound on his head, recounting the massacre at Murambi Technical School, where over 65,000 Tutsis were slaughtered. His wife and children were among the victims. Now, as a guide at the Murambi memorial, he helps others understand the horrors of April 1994, urging the world to remember and bear witness.

Arriving in Rwanda

Our journey began in Kigali, where our team, led by dedicated Rwandan partners, connected with organizations working on healing, reconciliation, and genocide prevention. We met with Professor Simon Grasibirege, a psychologist conducting trauma healing in Rwandan villages, and saw firsthand the resilience of a country rebuilding from tragedy.

The Bearing Witness Retreat

On April 7, 2010, the anniversary of the Nyanza massacre, we opened our retreat with a council circle. Rwandan representatives and international participants shared their stories in an atmosphere of deep listening and reflection. That evening, we joined thousands in a commemoration event at Nyanza, where some 5,000 Tutsis were abandoned by the UN and subsequently murdered. As a representative of an international NGO, I publicly acknowledged and apologized for the global community’s failure to intervene—an act that was deeply appreciated by our hosts.

Memorial Visits and Personal Stories

Over five intense days, we visited sites of unimaginable horror—Kigali Genocide Memorial, Ntarama and Nyamata churches, and Murambi. At Murambi, we stood among preserved corpses, silent witnesses to the massacre of 65,000 Tutsis. Each visit brought unbearable grief, a profound connection, and a shared commitment to memory and healing.

One moment of unexpected hope came at Nyamata, where Yvonne, a Rwandan participant, discovered the fate of her grandmother—murdered in the genocide—and learned of a long-lost cousin raised in Canada. This miraculous reunion underscored the retreat’s impact beyond words.

Meeting Perpetrators and Rescuers

At a TIG camp, we dialogued with confessed perpetrators, who initially deflected responsibility but later expressed profound remorse. In contrast, we also met Hutu rescuers who risked their lives to protect Tutsis—powerful stories that renewed our belief in human courage.

Mindfulness and Bearing Witness

Mindfulness training played a crucial role in supporting the process of bearing witness. By cultivating present-moment awareness, participants could stay grounded amid overwhelming grief and trauma. Mindfulness allowed us to hold space for deep listening, foster compassion, and engage in the difficult work of remembrance without becoming emotionally paralyzed. In the face of such profound suffering, mindfulness provided a pathway to resilience and meaningful engagement.

A Commitment to the Future

As our retreat concluded, we pledged to return with a larger, more diverse group and to document the stories of survivors, rescuers, and perpetrators. Our mission remains clear: to bear witness, remember, and ensure that such atrocities never happen again.

This retreat was not just an exploration of Rwanda’s past but a testament to the strength of the human spirit. Bearing witness is an act of remembrance and a call to action—one we must all answer.

#Rwanda #GenocideMemorial #HealingAndReconciliation #Mindfulness