Living through extended liminality: Reintegration experiences of génocidaire ex-prisoners in Rwanda.

This article examines the complex reintegration experiences of génocidaire ex-prisoners—those convicted of genocide crimes—following the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Drawing on qualitative research conducted within a community-based psychosocial support program across rural districts, it identifies factors hindering reintegration such as advanced age, physical and mental frailties, family conflicts, land scarcity, social stigma, fear, mistrust, and the loss of certain civil rights. Conversely, some ex-prisoners successfully transition out of a prolonged liminal state—defined as a social identity in-between incarceration and full societal reintegration—through physical fitness, positive attitudes, family and community acceptance, government policies, and psychosocial interventions like sociotherapy. The study highlights the unique post-genocide Rwandan context where reconciliation efforts coexist with enduring social divisions, emphasizing the need for further research on the sustainability of reintegration initiatives.