Five Inspiring Stories of Healing 20 Years After the Rwanda Genocide l Inspirational Words l Inspirational Stories

Forgiving the Unforgivable

Juliette Mukabanda was one of a handful of people who survived the massacre at a vocational school in southern Rwanda during the genocide. She escaped with her infant daughter - one month old Pauline - but her husband and two of her children were killed in the attack. Unbelievably, Juliette was able to reconcile with the killer of her family, Emmanuel Nyirimbuga. Emmanuel went to prison after the genocide, but his honesty made an impression on Juliette. She said he was one of the few attackers who told the whole truth of what he did. With that honesty and the reconciliation counseling they received, they were able to heal and forgive. Today the two are fast friends.