Learning to Live Side by Side

On the left, Thaddée NINGANZA, a resident Tutsi gave his Banana field to a returned Hutu widow after thirty years of living there. This conflict was mediated by Josépha Nzeyimana, who had received a Conflict Resolution Training by SFCG.

In the South of Burundi, in the village of Vugizo the positions of the inhabitants around land disputes seemed irreconcilable. The disputes arose after the violent events in 1972. The government suppressed a rebellion led by Hutus who tried to overthrow the government. The reprisals were violent, thousands were killed and many more fled the country. It was not only the village of Vugizo which was left empty, but many other villages in the south.

The empty villages were re-populated by Tutsis, who settled down in these villages and started to build a life there. They were very reluctant to share their land with the returning Hutus. SFCG, in cooperation with Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA), organized several sessions of conflict resolution trainings with the local population. Some of the residents started to open up to the idea of living side by side with their Hutu brothers who were returning from exile. Elected leaders from the neighborhood of Jongwe who participated in the training became very active in seeking resolutions to the the conflicts around land disputes. Today, Jongwe is considered as one of the models for peaceful cohabitation between Hutus and Tutsis, inhabitants and returnees. SFCG’s radio program Icibare Cacu broadcasts those stories of the residents and returnees who were able to solve the conflicts amicably.

Hutu and Tutsi children, those of residents and those of the returnees, play together in the village of Kibago, in the South of Burundi. Unthinkable yesterday. Possible today. Wonderful story of reconciliation.