We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families

About “We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families”

A firsthand account of a people's response to genocide, this book explores what happened in Rwanda and neighboring states after the 1994 genocide, in which the Hutu majority was encouraged to kill the Tutsi minority. The violence, largely carried out with machetes, resulted in the deaths of 800,000 people in just 100 days. Philip Gourevitch uses a Tutsi pastor's letter to highlight the genocidal logic that led to the tragedy. He examines the aftermath, including mass displacement, the struggle for justice, and the challenges of rebuilding society. Through the stories of Rwandans from all backgrounds, the book explores the psychological and political difficulties of survival. It also looks at how new leaders in postcolonial Africa responded to the threat of renewed violence in the Congo. The book raises questions about whether a nation made up of both victims and perpetrators can create a unified society. It offers insights into the human capacity to endure and the challenges of creating stable political systems in times of extreme violence.