Peace, Unity and Justice in the Society
Senior 6 · General and Religious Studies
Peace, Unity and Justice in the Society
Lesson 5 of 5
25 min
In every cell and sector in Rwanda there is a committee of seven people "of integrity … well-known for their conciliation skills": the Abunzi, the mediators. Their name comes from kunga, to reconcile. Under Law N° 37 of 2016 they hear civil disputes such as quarrels over land, other property and succession, or breaches of contract, where the value does not exceed 3,000,000 Frw. Their aim is not first to declare a winner but to help neighbours reach an agreement both can live with.
You studied the causes and management of conflict in Senior Five. This final lesson focuses on methods of resolving conflict, especially those rooted in Rwandan culture and in religious teaching, and then asks the question the whole unit points to: why do peace, unity and justice matter?
Definition
Conflict: a disagreement between people or groups whose interests, values or needs seem incompatible.
Negotiation: the parties discuss the problem directly and reach their own agreement.
Mediation: a neutral third party helps the parties talk and find a solution, but does not impose one.
Arbitration: the parties agree to let a neutral arbiter hear both sides and make a decision.
Adjudication: a court decides the dispute according to law, and its decision is binding.
Home-grown solutions: methods drawn from Rwandan culture to meet today's needs, such as Gacaca, Abunzi and Umuganda. Article 11 of the Constitution names Rwandan culture as a source of such solutions.
Figure 1 arranges the methods by who controls the outcome. Methods on the left keep the decision with the parties, which usually preserves relationships; methods on the right give a firm answer when talking fails. A good rule is to start as far left as the conflict allows.
| Source | What it teaches | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 18:15–17 | "go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you … If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the assembly." | Negotiation first, then mediation with witnesses, then the community |
| Matthew 5:23–24 | "First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." | Take the first step yourself |
| Qur'an 4:35 | "And if ye fear a breach between them twain (the man and wife), appoint an arbiter from his folk and an arbiter from her folk. If they desire amendment Allah will make them of one mind." | Family arbitration |
| Qur'an 49:9–10 | "make peace between them justly, and act equitably. Lo! Allah loveth the equitable. The believers are naught else than brothers. Therefore make peace between your brethren" | Mediation by the community, with justice |
| James 1:19; Proverbs 15:1 | "swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger"; "A gentle answer turns away wrath" | The skills of listening and calm speech |
Worked example 1: choosing the right forum
Two neighbours in a rural sector dispute the boundary between their plots. The strip of land is worth about 2,000,000 Frw. Talks between them have failed.
Step 1, the method. Negotiation has failed, so the next step is mediation, which keeps the decision with them and protects the neighbourly relationship.
Step 2, the forum. Under Law N° 37 of 2016, the Abunzi committee hears disputes over immovable property whose value does not exceed 3,000,000 Frw. Since , the Abunzi committee is competent.
Step 3, if mediation fails. A party who is not satisfied can take the case to court (adjudication).
Conclusion. The dispute should go first to the Abunzi of the cell. A faith-based approach would add Matthew 18:15 or Qur'an 49:9: meet privately, then with witnesses, seeking a just peace.
Worked example 2: a quarrel at school
Two S6 students fall out after one shared a private message from the other in a class group chat. The class is splitting into two camps.
Apply Matthew 18:15–17. First, the offended student speaks to the other privately and calmly (negotiation). If that fails, a trusted classmate or teacher meets both (mediation). Only if that fails does the matter go to the school's discipline committee.
Skills. Each listens without interrupting ("swift to hear"), speaks about feelings rather than insults ("a gentle answer"), and the student who shared the message admits it and deletes it (truth and repair from Lesson 4).
Outcome. The aim is not to find a winner but to restore the class's unity.
| Area | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Security and life | People can live, work and travel without fear; lives are protected ("whoso saveth the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind", Qur'an 5:32). |
| Development | Investors, tourists and businesses come where there is stability and fair rules; public money builds schools and roads instead of repairing war damage. |
| Human rights and dignity | Justice protects every person's rights equally, especially the weak. |
| Social cohesion and health | Trust between neighbours supports cooperation, from umuganda to savings groups, and reduces stress and trauma. |
| Good governance | Citizens who trust institutions participate, pay taxes and obey the law. |
| Faith | For believers, peace and justice are God's will: "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matthew 5:9); "Allah enjoineth justice and kindness" (16:90). |
| International relations | A peaceful country can help others: Rwanda has become one of the largest contributors of troops and police to United Nations peacekeeping missions. |
Rwanda's own history is the strongest argument. A society destroyed in 1994 by injustice, division and violence has since rebuilt itself by pursuing justice, unity and reconciliation together. The work is not finished, and every generation, including yours, must choose it again.
Tip
Start left in Figure 1. In case questions, recommend the method that keeps the most control with the parties and still fits the conflict, and say what to do if it fails. Name the Rwandan forum and the law where you can, for example "the Abunzi committee under Law N° 37 of 2016".
Important
Discuss. Is mediation always better than going to court? Think of a case where a court would be the better choice, for example when one party is much more powerful or when a crime has been committed.
Practice
Further reading
Sources and credits
Written by Ganzaa: Figure 1, the tables, the worked examples (invented cases) and the exercises.
