Abstract
This chapter aims to provide a contextual analysis of Rwanda’s experience with the nexus of religion, conflict and peacebuilding in the context of Sustainable Development Goal 16, on “promoting peaceful and inclusive societies”. The chapter takes a historical perspective and focuses on the Christian religion. It discusses how the Christian religion contributed to Rwanda’s conflict since the arrival of colonial administration and Christian missionaries, with a destructive legacy during the post-colonial period that culminated in the 1990–1994 civil war and the subsequent 1994 genocide. It also played an important role in peacebuilding during the civil war and the 1994 genocide, particularly in their aftermath. The chapter concludes by depicting two faces of the role of the Christian religion in Rwanda’s conflict history and peacebuilding—as an actor with a potential for conflict and peace.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | The Palgrave Handbook of Religion, Peacebuilding, and Development in Africa |
| Editors | Susan M. Kilonzo, Ezra Chitando, Joram Tarusarira |
| Publisher | Palgrave Pivot, Cham |
| Chapter | 9 |
| Pages | 145-162 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Edition | 1 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 978-3-031-36829-5 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-3-031-36828-8 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Oct 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.
Keywords
- Religion
- Conflict
- Peacebuilding
- Genocide
- Rwanda
- Christianity
