This is a qualitative study of the perspectives of the Burundian people, leaders and the
international community on the role of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in
promoting reconciliation in Burundi. Literature on transitional justice argues that TRCs
promote reconciliation. According to Lederach, reconciliation is a place where truth and
mercy, justice and peace meet. The objective is to explore how Burundian people think a
truth and reconciliation commission can impact reconciliation in Burundi, after decades
of interethnic conflict, 14 years after the Arusha Accord which suggested the creation of
that TRC even if it has not yet taken place.
The study also explores briefly the history of the Burundian interethnic conflict during
the pre-colonial, the colonial and the post-colonial era. After independence, the country
was not able to build unity, equal and fair distribution of resources among the three ethnic
groups (Hutu, Tutsi and Twa).
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As an effort to reconcile Burundian people, discussions on the ways in which
reconciliation can be promoted in Burundi have dominated academic, practitioner and
civil society leaders on the role that a TRC can play in Burundi. A sample population of
20 people from Burundi, Canada and United States participated in this study through
interviews during the period from September 2013 until January 2014. They expressed
their concerns about the ability of the TRC to promote reconciliation in Burundi.
They also argued that the concepts of reconciliation, truth and justice have a slight
difference meaning for Burundian people and therefore assuming that justice for example
can promote reconciliation in a context where justice is symbol of power setting apart the
winner and the loser may be misleading.
Finally this study suggest that reconciliation should be the outcome of a slow
development of local initiatives such as the Bashingantahe practice which brings together
two conflicting individuals or groups and oblige them to share a drink on the same gourd
with the same straw, as a symbol of respect, love, forgiveness and reconciliation.