Bosnian Genocide1992-1995

Background• The population of Bosnia was divided into three major groups:• Croats (from Croatia)• Muslims• Serbs (from Serbia)

• Tension existed between these three groups• In 1992, Bosnia (which was part of Yugoslavia) declared its

independence• Bosnian Serbs did not want independence• Started violently targeting the Croats and Muslims

Where?• Located next to Serbia in Eastern Europe- part of Yugoslavia

What happened?• The genocide in Bosnia-Herzegovina was an “ethnic cleansing

program,” or a program designed to get rid of unwanted subgroups in the population.• In Bosnia, these subgroups were the Bosnians Muslims and

Croats• The ethnic cleansing campaign included unlawful confinement,

murder, rape, sexual assault, torture, beating, robbery and inhumane treatment of civilians; the targeting of political leaders, intellectuals and professionals; the unlawful deportation and transfer of civilians; the unlawful shelling of civilians; the unlawful appropriation and plunder of real and personal property; the destruction of homes and businesses; and the destruction of places of worship

• A concentration camp used for Bosnian Muslims and Croats

• Cities like Sarajevo, the capital, were controlled by the Serbs

Outcome

• United Nations never really supported staging an intervention• Sent some humanitarian aid, but not

enough• Around 100,000 people were killed• Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic was

charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity as a result of the ethnic cleansing

• Discovery of a mass grave in Bosnia

Genocide in Rwanda1994

Background• Two major tribes in the area• Tutsi (minority)• Hutu (majority)

• The Tutsi had been in power for centuries, but in the 1950s/1960s, the Hutu had come to power through a rebellion

• Strong history of ethnic tension• In 1990, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (made up of Tutsis) led a

rebellion to defeat the Hutus • Started the Rwandan Civil War

Where?

• South/Central Africa

What happened?

• The Hutu leader was assassinated in April 1994• This angered the Hutus and led to them starting a

genocide against the Tutsis• Genocide planned by a group called the Akazu• Tutsis targeted both for being an ethnic minority and

being viewed as traitors• Ended when the Rwandan Patriotic Front regrouped and

defeated Hutu government

• An orphaned Rwandan child mourns the slaughter of his village

• Camp for Tutsi refugees in Zaire

Outcome

• Anywhere from 500,000-1,000,000 killed (that’s about 20% of the population!!)• Led to the creation of the International Criminal

Court• Deals with genocide, crimes against humanity,

and war crimes

• Mass grave site for the victims of the Rwandan genocide

Genocide in Darfur2003-2010

Background• Darfur is a region in Western Sudan• History of conflict in the region over oil, scarce resources,

religion, and political divisions• In 1989, General Omar Bashir took control of Sudan by

military coup which angered many people and increased tensions

• Rebel groups called Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM) formed in 2003 to overthrow the Sudanese government

Where?

• North/Central Africa

What happened?• In response to the formation of the SLA and JEM, the

Sudanese government ordered Arab militias called the janjaweed (devils on horseback) to attack any rebels

• Destroyed over 400 villages in Darfur and started a genocide against civilians

• Murdered and raped their victims• Bashir’s government denied any connection to the janjaweed

• Unit of the janjaweed

• Members of the SLA

Outcome• Anywhere from 180,000-500,000 killed• 2,850,000 displaced persons, according to a UN estimate• In 2005, the International Criminal Court launched

investigations into human rights violations in Darfur. This led to the indictment of President Omar al Bashir in March 2009 for directing a campaign of mass killing, rape, and pillage against civilians in Darfur.

• In February 2010, the Sudanese government and the JEM signed a cease-fire.

• Children from Darfur in refugee camps