Gacaca Court: A Unique Model of Community Justice

Imagine living in a time when there were no judges, lawyers, or laws to settle your conflicts. How would you resolve your differences with your neighbors, friends, or enemies? For many ancient societies, the answer was simple: they would meet on a grass field, and talk it out.

“So we have lost a big number of people, but these people have been also killed by another big number. After that observation, our government has decided to look for an alternative solution. That’s why we have Gacaca now,” says Domitilla Mukantaganzwa to Theworld News, a government official in charge of the Gacaca courts. As ridiculous as it sounds, the Rwandan Genocide trial was prosecuted through the Gacaca Court.

Rwanda, warmly known as the “Heart of Africa” has witnessed one of the worst genocides in human history. In 1994, extremist Hutus killed about 8,00,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus in a span of 100 days. The genocide left the country devastated, traumatized, and divided. How did Rwanda manage to recover from this tragedy and rebuild its society? Well, It’s Gacaca court!

Gacaca (p.n: ga.sa.ka) means “short grass” in Rwanda. Gacaca Court refers to the traditional system of community justice practice, where people gathered on a grassy field to resolve their disputes together.

The Gacaca trial system was introduced by the Rwandan government, led by RPF Leader Mr. Paul Kagame to deal with Rwanda genocide cases and promote reconciliation.

How does this court model work?
The Gacaca court trial model is truly innovative and works as follows:

1. The judges of the Gacaca courts are called inyangamugayo, meaning “people of integrity“. They are elected by the local communities from among the ordinary citizens, who are not involved in the genocide, and who have a good reputation and moral character. They are trained by the national service of Gacaca courts, which supervises and coordinates the activities of the courts.
2. The courts classify the genocide suspects into three categories, according to the gravity of their crimes. The first category includes the planners, organizers, and leaders of the genocide, as well as the perpetrators of rape and sexual violence. They are tried by the conventional courts, and face the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The second category includes the killers, and those who inflicted serious bodily harm. They are tried by the Gacaca courts, and face a prison sentence of 5 to 30 years, which can be reduced by half if they confess and ask for forgiveness. The third category includes the looters and those who committed minor offenses. They are also tried by the Gacaca courts and face a prison sentence of 3 to 12 years, which can be replaced by community service if they confess and ask for forgiveness.
3. The courts conduct the hearings in public, usually once a week, in the presence of the local population. The hearings follow a four-phase process: information gathering, judgment, execution, and follow-up. In the information gathering phase, the judges collect the testimonies and evidence from the witnesses, victims, and accused, and compile a list of the crimes and the suspects. In the judgment phase, the judges deliberate and decide on the guilt or innocence of the suspects, and determine the appropriate sentences and reparations. In the execution phase, the judges ensure that the sentences and reparations are carried out and that the offenders are reintegrated into society. In the follow-up phase, the judges monitor and evaluate the impact and the outcome of the Gacaca process, and report any problems or issues to the national service of Gacaca courts.

The main reasons for introducing Gacaca courts in Rwanda were:

1. To speed up the trials of the genocide suspects, who were too many to be handled by the formal justice system. There were about 120,000 suspects in prison, and only 50 judges and 250 lawyers in the country. At the rate of the conventional courts, it would have taken more than 100 years to process all the cases.
2. To encourage the truth-telling, confession, and repentance of the perpetrators, who could receive reduced sentences or community service in exchange. The government hoped that by revealing the truth and acknowledging the guilt, the perpetrators would help the survivors to heal and to find closure.
3. To facilitate the healing, forgiveness, and reconciliation of the survivors and the offenders, as well as their families and communities. The government believed that by bringing the parties face to face, and allowing them to express their feelings and opinions, they would be able to overcome their hatred and resentment and restore their relationships.
4. To restore the social harmony and cohesion of the Rwandan society, which was shattered by the genocide. The government aimed to rebuild the trust and confidence among the people and to foster a sense of national unity and identity, beyond the ethnic divisions.