Reclaiming humanity together: The impact of intra‐ and interpersonal factors on survivor readiness to reconcile in post‐genocide Rwanda

After the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, many grassroots initiatives in Rwanda have focused on reconciliation. The current study examined the relationships between survivor readiness to reconcile and génocidaire shame, guilt, and self‐forgiveness and survivor traumatic stress, desire for outgroup interaction, and beliefs about outgroup members. Survivors (n = 45) and their direct perpetrators (n = 46) who participated as a dyad in a local peacebuilding program were interviewed at four strategic phases. No significant relationship was found between survivor readiness to reconcile and génocidaire shame and guilt; génocidaire self‐forgiveness did not mediate this relationship. Higher survivor traumatic stress symptoms were associated with lower readiness to reconcile, and greater survivor desire for outgroup interaction was associated with greater readiness to reconcile. Fewer survivor prejudicial beliefs towards génocidaires were significantly associated with higher readiness to reconcile. Decades after the genocide, reconciliation follows a non‐linear trajectory and may be more influenced by intrapersonal than interpersonal factors.