Rwanda

A photographic essay on the incredible stories of Rwandan people who are still working hard  to rebuild their lives and their divided society 18 years after the 1994 genocide. These photos by award-winning photojournalist Carol Allen Storey put the spotlight on the long-term effects of war and the complexity of reconciling a nation. 

photography © Carol Allen Storey for International Alert

library: 

Fractured Lives: a photographic essay on the aftermath of genocide

In the context of an ongoing programme on Women’s Economic Empowerment, Alert co-organised a regional workshop with the Economic Community of the Great Lakes (CEPGL) and UN WOMEN on April 25th – 27th in Gisenyi, Rwanda.

As we look to summer, it is hard not to reflect on what an eventful spring it has been on the international stage.

From a historic revolution in Egypt to the violent civil conflict that has erupted in Libya – the need for peace is back in the spotlight.

This first report from the Regional Analysts Network, based on three separate, detailed studies of different locations in the Great Lakes region, demonstrates the power of rumours, myths, stereotypes and prejudices to fuel conflict. Based on interviews with ordinary citizens as well as political decision-makers and opinion-leaders, the report presents material which has hitherto been little documented, and draws original conclusions that will be of interest to a wide readership.

Full report

Many survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in particular widows and orphans, have been unable to build new families, and their isolation is an important factor in their inability to re-establish a viable livelihood. Ex-combatants, many of whom are former child or young soldiers who have spent more than a decade in the military, are frequently ill-equipped to deal with insertion into the civilian economy.

Location

International Alert recently attended the 54th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women which undertook a 15-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA).

In partnership with the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), Alert organised a panel discussion to present the preliminary results of a joint research project on the nature and impact of women’s political participation currently being carried out in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

International Alert recently published a report on Refugee return to eastern DRC, a discussion document that explores and warns of the dangers posed by the issue of returning refugees from Rwanda to North Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Le petit commerce de produits vivriers (légumes, fruits etc.) entre la Province du Nord Kivu de la RDC (Goma) et la Province de l’Ouest du Rwanda (Gisenyi) est très important. Le petit
commerce transfrontalier est défini comme « activité commerciale génératrice de revenus dont la valeur des transactions commerciales journalières ne dépasse pas 100 dollars américains (USD) par commerçant ».

La Traversée: Petit Commerce et Amélioration des relations transfrontalières entre Goma (RD Congo) et Gisenyi (Rwanda).

This is the report of a consultation workshop jointly organised by International Alert and the Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) in partnership with the Women and Gender Studies Department at Makerere University. The workshop is part of a regional research project aimed at assessing the impact of women’s political participation in countries emerging from conflict in the Great Lakes Region of Africa.

Full report

The small-scale cross-border trade in agricultural products between DRC and Rwanda constitutes a survival economy sustaining thousands of people on both sides of the border. This report analyses this trade between the towns of Goma (DR Congo) and Gisenyi (Rwanda) and the relationship between Congolese and Rwandese women traders, in order to understand the impact that improving this trade would have on good neighborly relations, peace and security.

Full report