Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide

GenocideGenocide GenocideGenocide is the mass killing of a group of people as is the mass killing of a group of people as

defined by Article 2 of the defined by Article 2 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) as "any of the following acts committed with (CPPCG) as "any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, , ethnical, , racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the racial or religious group, as such: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical conditions of life, calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures destruction in whole or in part; imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; and forcibly intended to prevent births within the group; and forcibly transferring children of the group to another group." transferring children of the group to another group."

RWANDARWANDA

Country BackgroundCountry BackgroundRwanda is one of the smallest countries in Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in

Central Africa.Central Africa.A former colony of Belgium.A former colony of Belgium.Population of 7 million people Population of 7 million people There are two main ethnic groups, the Hutu There are two main ethnic groups, the Hutu

and the Tutsi.and the Tutsi.The Hutus made up 90% of the population, The Hutus made up 90% of the population,

but the Tutsis were the wealthy. but the Tutsis were the wealthy. Tutsis dominated Hutu peasants for decades, Tutsis dominated Hutu peasants for decades,

especially while under Belgian controlespecially while under Belgian control

The Hutu majority seized power and the oppressing The Hutu majority seized power and the oppressing of the Tutsis through discrimination and violence of the Tutsis through discrimination and violence began.began.

Over 200,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries Over 200,000 Tutsis fled to neighboring countries and formed a rebel guerrilla army, the Rwandan and formed a rebel guerrilla army, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).Patriotic Front (RPF).

In 1990, this rebel army invaded Rwanda and forced In 1990, this rebel army invaded Rwanda and forced Hutu President into sharing power between Hutus Hutu President into sharing power between Hutus and Tutsis.and Tutsis.

Ethnic tensions in Rwanda heightened in October Ethnic tensions in Rwanda heightened in October 1993 upon the assassination of the first elected 1993 upon the assassination of the first elected Hutu president of neighboring Burundi. Hutu president of neighboring Burundi.

A United Nations peacekeeping force of 2,500 was A United Nations peacekeeping force of 2,500 was then dispatched to Rwanda to preserve a cease-fire then dispatched to Rwanda to preserve a cease-fire between the Hutu government and theTutsis between the Hutu government and theTutsis

In April 1994, while returning from a meeting in In April 1994, while returning from a meeting in Tanzania, a small jet carrying two Hutu presidents Tanzania, a small jet carrying two Hutu presidents was shot down as it approached Rwanda's airport at was shot down as it approached Rwanda's airport at Kigali. Kigali.

Immediately, Rwanda plunged into violence as Hutu Immediately, Rwanda plunged into violence as Hutu extremists began targeting people that were on extremists began targeting people that were on their death-lists, including moderate Hutu politicians their death-lists, including moderate Hutu politicians and Tutsi leaders.and Tutsi leaders.

A small UN force of 2500 peacekeepers was A small UN force of 2500 peacekeepers was overwhelmed trying to maintain order.overwhelmed trying to maintain order.

The killings then spread throughout the countryside The killings then spread throughout the countryside as Hutu militia, armed with machetes, clubs, guns as Hutu militia, armed with machetes, clubs, guns and grenades, began indiscriminately killing Tutsi and grenades, began indiscriminately killing Tutsi civilians. civilians.

All individuals in Rwanda carried identification cards All individuals in Rwanda carried identification cards specifying their ethnic background. specifying their ethnic background. (A practice left over (A practice left over from colonial days.)from colonial days.)

These 'tribal cards' now meant the difference These 'tribal cards' now meant the difference between life and death.between life and death.

While the massacre was occurring, both the U.N. While the massacre was occurring, both the U.N. and the U.S. denied calling the killings as genocide.and the U.S. denied calling the killings as genocide. This would have necessitated some kind of emergency This would have necessitated some kind of emergency

intervention. intervention.

Among the peacekeepers were ten soldiers from Among the peacekeepers were ten soldiers from Belgium who were captured by the Hutus, tortured Belgium who were captured by the Hutus, tortured and murdered. and murdered.

The United States, France, Belgium, and Italy all The United States, France, Belgium, and Italy all began evacuating their own personnel from began evacuating their own personnel from Rwanda.Rwanda.

On April 21, the Red Cross estimated that hundreds On April 21, the Red Cross estimated that hundreds of thousands of Tutsi had already been massacred of thousands of Tutsi had already been massacred since April 6.since April 6.

On April 21, the Red Cross estimated that On April 21, the Red Cross estimated that hundreds of thousands of Tutsi had already hundreds of thousands of Tutsi had already been massacred since April 6 - an extraordinary been massacred since April 6 - an extraordinary rate of killing.rate of killing. Hutus were often given incentives, such as money or Hutus were often given incentives, such as money or

food, and some were even told they could appropriate food, and some were even told they could appropriate the land of the Tutsis they killed. the land of the Tutsis they killed.

Hospitals also became prime targets as wounded Hospitals also became prime targets as wounded survivors were sought out then killed. survivors were sought out then killed.

In some local villages, militiamen forced Hutus to In some local villages, militiamen forced Hutus to kill their Tutsi neighbors or face a death kill their Tutsi neighbors or face a death sentence for themselves and their entire sentence for themselves and their entire families. They also forced Tutsis to kill members families. They also forced Tutsis to kill members of their own families. of their own families.

Facing TV news reports depicting genocide, the Facing TV news reports depicting genocide, the U.N. Security Council voted to send up to 5,000 U.N. Security Council voted to send up to 5,000 soldiers to Rwanda. soldiers to Rwanda.

However, the Security Council never sent the However, the Security Council never sent the troops in time to stop the massacre.troops in time to stop the massacre.

The killings only ended after armed Tutsi rebels, The killings only ended after armed Tutsi rebels, invading from neighboring countries, managed invading from neighboring countries, managed to defeat the Hutus in July 1994. to defeat the Hutus in July 1994.

By then, over one-tenth of the population, an By then, over one-tenth of the population, an estimated 800,000 persons, had been killed.estimated 800,000 persons, had been killed.

Key PlayersKey Players

Colonel BagosoraColonel Bagosoramastermind of Rwanda's 1994 genocidemastermind of Rwanda's 1994 genocide

General Romeo DallaireGeneral Romeo Dallaire

Canadian General in charge of UN troops in Rwanda.

Terror in Rwanda CBC ARCHIVES

Peacekeeper to the World CBC ARCHIVES

UN War Crimes TribunalUN War Crimes Tribunal

The Tribunal is ongoing in Arusha, United The Tribunal is ongoing in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania. Republic of Tanzania.

The UN budgeted US $269,758,400 for The UN budgeted US $269,758,400 for costs of the tribunal.costs of the tribunal.

All responsible for the genocide are All responsible for the genocide are presently being tried, have been tried or presently being tried, have been tried or are waiting to be. are waiting to be.

UN War Crimes TribunalUN War Crimes TribunalTRIBUNAL Video CBCTRIBUNAL Video CBC

Key points to write downKey points to write down

Rwanda is a Central African Country.Rwanda is a Central African Country.Former Belgian ColonyFormer Belgian Colony1994 Genocide began1994 Genocide beganOver a period of 100 days 800,000+ Tutsi Over a period of 100 days 800,000+ Tutsi

and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.and moderate Hutus were slaughtered.There was a small UN peacekeeping force There was a small UN peacekeeping force

there with Canadian General Romeo there with Canadian General Romeo Dallaire in charge.Dallaire in charge.

The Hutu Militia were responsible for the The Hutu Militia were responsible for the killings.killings.

The killings were organized by Colonel The killings were organized by Colonel Bagosora.Bagosora.

10 Belgian peacekeepers were captured 10 Belgian peacekeepers were captured and killed by the Hutu militia.and killed by the Hutu militia.

The UN and the US both refused to call The UN and the US both refused to call this a genocide therefore a significant this a genocide therefore a significant force was not sent in.force was not sent in.

The UN finally sent in 5000 troops but only The UN finally sent in 5000 troops but only after the killings were over.after the killings were over.