Honouring the remarkable achievements of our PhD alumnus Emmanuel Ndikumana, as we delve into his profound journey and thesis on reconciliation and forgiveness in Burundi.
We are delighted in the success of Emmanuel Ndikumana from Burundi becoming a successful PhD alumnus. He has dedicated much of his life to leadership development and reconciliation efforts within his home country and across Francophone Africa. As the founder and executive director of Partners Trust International (PTI), he focuses on investing in leadership skills especially among young people. Before this role, Emmanuel worked with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), serving as the general secretary for the Burundi IFES movement and later as the training secretary for Francophone Africa. Emmanuel’s personal experiences growing up amid ethnic tensions in Burundi, particularly during periods of conflict between Hutus and Tutsis, have deeply influenced his vision for reconciliation, seeing it as a critical mission.
His commitment extends to his role as the regional director for the Lausanne Movement in Francophone Africa. He also actively contributed to the pioneering and leadership of the Great Lakes Initiatives. This initiative aims to unite church leaders, academics, and practitioners in pursuing reconciliation in the African Great Lakes Region. Despite facing significant challenges, especially during the 2015 political crisis in Burundi which impacted his research and the operations of PTI, Emmanuel has remained steadfast in his commitment to his community and his research. The crisis led to the temporary closure of the Great Lakes School of Theology and Leadership he and some of his colleagues had started and the departure of many influential members of the community.
Nevertheless, Emmanuel continued to focus on providing leadership and support to those who remained. He is currently the Principal of the school. Emmanuel pursued a PhD in Theology at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (UK), focusing on justice, forgiveness, and the politics of reconciliation in Burundi. His research is particularly significant considering the historical context of ethnic violence in Burundi. Emmanuel’s work examines the role of forgiveness in political reconciliation, highlighting how it can end cycles of violence and contribute to the healing process of a nation.
Emmanuel participated in a Panel Session entitled Reconciliation in Times of Conflict: Stories of Hope at the September 2024 Lausanne 4 Conference. nThis panel focuses on reconciliation and peace-building amid suffering and conflict. You can listen to his contribution here
PhD Thesis Synopsis
Emmanuel Ndikumana was awarded a PhD for his thesis titled ‘TRANSFORMING DESTRUCTIVE ETHNIC VIOLENCE: AN EXPLORATION OF THE ROLE OF FORGIVENESS IN POLITICAL RECONCILIATION IN BURUNDI.’ His research uses the context of Burundi, where Hutus and Tutsis have experienced severe ethnic violence, to explore how forgiveness can meet the demands of justice and support the process of political reconciliation. The thesis begins by situating the ethnic violence in its historical context, analysing how survivors remember their experiences and the meanings they ascribe to them. It concludes by demonstrating the necessity of forgiveness for restoring the dignity of both survivors and perpetrators and for promoting reconciliation. The study also compares the situation in Burundi with other post-conflict societies, identifying unique contributions to the understanding of forgiveness and reconciliation.
Emmanuel’s journey, marked by personal sacrifice and a deep commitment to his nation’s healing and development, underscores the importance of leadership, faith, and the pursuit of reconciliation in overcoming the challenges of ethnic conflict and divisions. He was supported by Scholar Leaders International and Langham Partnership.
