At least 800.000 people were killed in the genocide that tore Rwanda apart, exactly 25 years ago. Victims were mainly Tutsis and moderate Hutus, often murdered by friends and neighbors, following the outbreak of inter-ethnic violence which lasted 100 days.
Nowadays, in the southern village of Mbyo, survivors and perpetrators live together in a ‘reconciliation village’, established by the non- governmental organisation Prison Fellowship Rwanda. Genocide survivor Jacqueline Mukamana lives next door to Mathias Sendegeya, a genocide perpetrator who killed six of Jacqueline’s family members. Yet, they are friends.
In Mbyo, I photographed and interviewed Mathias and Jacqueline about the events of 25 years ago, and how they have found a way to live next door to each other. That story is published by The New Humanitarian, an online platform that puts quality, independent journalism at the service of the millions of people affected by humanitarian crises around the world. They report from the heart of conflicts and disasters to inform prevention and response.
