The Genocide 1994
The actual genocide forms a very small part of the course, as it only lasted around 100 days. However, it is important to know some statistical data and a general timeline of events. This can also be used in the 'own knowledge' in Q4 of Paper 1. The course states that the following key topics should be known:
- Actions of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and Rwandan Government; Role of the Media
- Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
- Rebel force of Tutsi exiles
- Began the Rwandan Civil War in October 1990 with guerrilla warfare tactic
- Rwandan Government
- Led by President Habyarimana - used the RPF invasion to rally the population and present itself as a unifying force against an external enemy, leading to the eventual genocide
- Genocide began after President Habyarimana's plane was shot down on April 6th 1994
- The Rwandan government was heavily supported by its allies in Zaire and French troops, who blocked the RPF's initial advance of Kigali, yet the RPF had advanced within 20km of the Kigali before this happened
- Supported a developing 'Hutu Power Movement', formed Interahamwe in Dec 1991, 'Impuzamugambi' ("those who have the same goal", symbolic of Hutu government ideology of solidarity against a common enemy. Contributed to propaganda) paramilitary militia, and politicians in the Akazu (inner circle of Rwandan government elites)
- Led by President Habyarimana - used the RPF invasion to rally the population and present itself as a unifying force against an external enemy, leading to the eventual genocide
- Media Sources:
- Kangura Magazine - First published in 1990 after RPF invasion, designed to promote the Hutu cause in Rwanda. Translates to "wake it up" in Kinyardwana. Became an important mouthpiece of Hutu power, given the green light by Rwandan authorities.
- Hutu Ten Commandments (Dec 1990 publication) - called for the elimination of Tutsi in all positions of influence and ostracisation from society.
- Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM) - Habyarimana government radio established in 8 July 1993 and ended in July 1994 - "most successful hate radio in history". Four individuals involved in the RTLM were later convicted of war crimes by the ICTR
- Samantha Power: "killers in Rwanda often carried a machete in one hand and a radio transistor in the other"
- Kangura Editor-in-Chief, Hassan Ngeze, described the RTLM as "the birth of a partner in the fight for Hutu unification"
- Media was commented on by the UNTR: "Without a firearm, machete or any physical weapon, you caused the death of thousands of innocent civilians
- Kangura Magazine - First published in 1990 after RPF invasion, designed to promote the Hutu cause in Rwanda. Translates to "wake it up" in Kinyardwana. Became an important mouthpiece of Hutu power, given the green light by Rwandan authorities.
- Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
- Nature of the Genocide and other crimes against humanity; war rape
- Rape: Used as a weapon, mainly by perpetrators infected with HIV. Tens of thousands were raped and sexually humiliated. Also used as a tool to exterminate the Tutsi, whereby HIV positive perpetrators would rape Tutsi women. Media portrayed Tutsi women as sexual weapons which would destroy Hutu men.
- Anne-Marie de Brouwer (2009): "an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women and girls were raped... Sexual violence occurred everywhere, and no one was spared.
- UN Report - "Rape was the rule, its absence was the exception.
- Machetes: The primary weapon of the genocide. Stats in the Butare province nearly 60% were killed with this weapon. Used to wound and incapacitate victims, sometimes people were disabled and left to be finished off later.
- Anywhere from 800,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi and Hutu victims killed over 100 days
- Rape: Used as a weapon, mainly by perpetrators infected with HIV. Tens of thousands were raped and sexually humiliated. Also used as a tool to exterminate the Tutsi, whereby HIV positive perpetrators would rape Tutsi women. Media portrayed Tutsi women as sexual weapons which would destroy Hutu men.
- International Response during the Genocide
- UNAMIR: United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda, led by General Romeo Dallaire. initially intended to oversee the implementation of the Arusha Accords. However, its failure to act was due to the limitations of its rules of engagement and its Chapter VI mandate which rendered it powerless. Comprised of troops from Belgium, Bangladesh, Ghana, and Tunisia. The greatest contribution of 400 was from Belgium. However, these troops were pulled out on 14th April with the withdrawal of Belgium after the assassination of 10 Belgian peacekeepers by Hutu extremists on 7th April.
- Belgium: Former colonial ruler of Rwanda, had a close connection with the nation. Had the biggest proportion of UNAMIR soldiers, even though the UN normally bans former colonial powers from participating in peacekeeping activities. When the Belgians pulled out of Rwanda, Dallaire described it as a "terrible blow to the mission", and Colonel Luc Marchal (commander of Belgium's UNAMIR contingent) stated "Our political leaders should have known that in leaving UNAMIR, we would condemn thousands of men, women, and children to certain death... It is not surprising that many of them... threw down their blue berets in disgust upon their return to Belgium". Illustrates the profound support of the Belgian troops to their peacekeeping efforts in Rwanda. Though it can never be known whether the continuation of Belgian involvement would have had a significant impact, this is definitely a critical turning point right at the beginning of the genocide.
- France: France have controversially been scrutinised for their support of the Habyarimana regime in the lead up to and duration of the genocide. Defending the capital during the RPF invasion, French involvement dates back to 1990, and continued throughout the course of the genocide. Missions such as Operation Turquoise and Operation Amaryllis were condemned for safeguarding perpetrators of the genocide
- United States:
- The shadow of Somalia - didn't want to risk losing more troops in foreign affairs
- Absence of any real national or economic interest in Rwanda
- Political pressure domestically - Upcoming congressional elections in Nov 1994 were important to White House aides
- Prioritisation of other issues facing the Clinton government - Haiti and Bosnia. Maneuvres such as the PDD25 were established by the US to prevent US forces being used by the UN.