Abstract:
The process of justice and reconciliation is not only a matter of healing memories
and receiving forgiveness. It is rather a matter of addressing the social structures that
provoked, promoted, and sustained the occurrence of acts of violence. This article
examines the journey toward forgiveness focusing on the case of reconciliation
and strategic governance in Burundi. An emphasis will be essentially placed on
the recent developments. In this article the intention is not to examine the social
structures but to identify some of the theories that can assist the Burundian people
to engage in the peace-building process in the aftermath of conflicts. The case of
Burundi is not unique hence the ideas outlined in this article are also applicable to
other countries in the Great Lakes region and even beyond. The article will suggest
the adoption of a leadership model most suited for the region, as it contains the
elements that are appropriate for a leadership paradigm that could work in sub-
Saharan Africa. This article further interrogates the assumption that, decisionmaking
and policy analysis in the public sector realm can be ‘rational’, against the
inherent messiness of politics in the developing world.
