The Rwandan GenocideThe Rwandan Genocide100 Days of Slaughter100 Days of SlaughterApril 6, 1994-July 18, 1994April 6, 1994-July 18, 1994

Source: David Simon, The Teaching of Africa, PIER, Yale University , July 11, 2005Source: David Simon, The Teaching of Africa, PIER, Yale University , July 11, 2005

Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide

Massacre of an estimated Massacre of an estimated 800,000 – 1,071,000 800,000 – 1,071,000 ethnic Tutsis & moderate ethnic Tutsis & moderate Hutus carried out by two Hutus carried out by two Hutu extremist groups Hutu extremist groups

The killings lasted about The killings lasted about 100 days in 1994100 days in 1994

The United Nations had The United Nations had little response to the little response to the genocidegenocide

The BeginningThe Beginning

Started with a plane crash (April 6, 1994)Started with a plane crash (April 6, 1994)2 Presidents killed2 Presidents killedJuvenal Habyarimana (Rwanda)Juvenal Habyarimana (Rwanda) Cyprian Ntayamira (BurundiCyprian Ntayamira (Burundi))

Neighboring CountryNeighboring Country

The BeginningThe Beginning

Hutu Hutu extremists are extremists are considered considered responsible for the responsible for the crashcrash

President of Rwanda President of Rwanda was about to sign a was about to sign a Peace AccordPeace Accord The extremists The extremists

disapproveddisapproved

In BetweenIn BetweenBrutality Brutality

period in period in betweenbetween

Genocide of theGenocide of the TutsiTutsi population population by the radical by the radical

Hutu Hutu populationpopulation

The EndThe EndEnded with a rebel Ended with a rebel

victory by Tutsis victory by Tutsis Rwandan Patriotic Rwandan Patriotic

Army chase out FAR Army chase out FAR (Tutsis)(Tutsis)

Genocide ended with Genocide ended with their victorytheir victory

800,000 people killed800,000 people killed

The killings beginThe killings begin

The The same nightsame night of of the plane crashthe plane crash

The Rwandan Armed The Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and Forces (FAR) and Hutu militia begin Hutu militia begin killing killing Tutsis Tutsis Hutu moderatesHutu moderates

The killings BeginThe killings Begin

Roadblocks set up Roadblocks set up to capture Tutsis to capture Tutsis and Hutu and Hutu moderatesmoderates

Machetes are the Machetes are the weapon of choice weapon of choice for killingsfor killingsWhy????Why????

The role of the U.N.The role of the U.N.

Fails to interveneFails to intervene Only allowed to Only allowed to

“monitor” the situation“monitor” the situation

The killing of Belgian soldiersThe killing of Belgian soldiers

10 Belgian soldiers 10 Belgian soldiers who work for the who work for the United NationsUnited Nations Guarding the Hutu Guarding the Hutu

prime minister at his prime minister at his homehome

Hutu radicals kill him Hutu radicals kill him and the Belgian and the Belgian soldierssoldiers

Defining GenocideDefining Genocide The Question of GenocideThe Question of Genocide

Definition:Definition: any of the following acts committed with any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in intent to destroy, in

whole or in partwhole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as , a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: such:

(a) Killing members of the group; (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to

bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

One or Two?One or Two? Elimination of Tutsis was an explicit goalElimination of Tutsis was an explicit goal Massacres of Hutus not part of an elimination planMassacres of Hutus not part of an elimination plan Or Zero?: Are Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups?Or Zero?: Are Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups?

Hutu and Tutsi DifferencesHutu and Tutsi Differences Speak same Speak same

languagelanguage Same customsSame customs

But…..But…..

Tutsis had a history of Tutsis had a history of having more powerhaving more power

Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’

Historical RelationsHistorical RelationsColonialColonial

Germans and Belgians divided the 2 groups in Germans and Belgians divided the 2 groups in 19161916

Rigid boundariesRigid boundaries ID cardsID cards

Belgians gave the Tutsis superiorityBelgians gave the Tutsis superiority Why?Why?

Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’

Tutsi SuperiorityTutsi SuperiorityBetter jobsBetter jobsMore educational opportunitiesMore educational opportunities

This leads to resentment by the Hutus…….This leads to resentment by the Hutus…….

Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’

Hutu Revolt in 1959Hutu Revolt in 1959Hutu population begins to leave Rwanda Hutu population begins to leave Rwanda

for bordering countriesfor bordering countries

Rwandan independenceRwandan independence

1962 Belgians 1962 Belgians leave Rwandaleave Rwanda

Hutus still feel Hutus still feel hostility towards hostility towards TutsisTutsis

Economic TensionsEconomic Tensions

Growth in ’70s and Growth in ’70s and ’80s’80s

But dependent on:But dependent on: CoffeeCoffee AidAid

Pre-genocidePre-genocide

UN Mission for RwandaUN Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) (UNAMIR)Recommended: about 10,000 soldiers Recommended: about 10,000 soldiers

(a.s.a.p.) (a.s.a.p.) Proposed: 5200 starting 9/93Proposed: 5200 starting 9/93Actual: Actual:

no one before 10/93no one before 10/93minimal equipment before 1/94minimal equipment before 1/94Maximum force of 2500 (in April 1994)Maximum force of 2500 (in April 1994)

During the genocideDuring the genocide

United NationsUnited Nations Ten Belgians killed immediatelyTen Belgians killed immediatelyForces (mostly) withdrawn, 4/20/94Forces (mostly) withdrawn, 4/20/94

United StatesUnited StatesDenialDenialNon-cooperationNon-cooperation

AfricaAfricaNo force to get involvedNo force to get involved

The AftermathThe Aftermath International Tribune for RwandaInternational Tribune for Rwanda

First recognition of rape as an offense of genocideFirst recognition of rape as an offense of genocide 60+ indictments60+ indictments

Rwandan courtsRwandan courts 125,000 detainees125,000 detainees 2000 cases handled after 4 years2000 cases handled after 4 years

““justice on the grass”justice on the grass” CountrywideCountrywide InformalInformal

Why study Rwanda??Why study Rwanda??

A unique case or A unique case or all too common?all too common?

International International politicspolitics

Human interaction Human interaction

Hotel RwandaHotel Rwanda

Hotel RwandaHotel Rwanda

The movie is based on the true events that The movie is based on the true events that took place during the genocidal violence took place during the genocidal violence that erupted in Rwanda that erupted in Rwanda

Between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups Between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups in 1994 in 1994

The central character is Paul The central character is Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu who managed a Rusesabagina, a Hutu who managed a four-star in Kigali, the Capital of Rwandafour-star in Kigali, the Capital of Rwanda

““Paul R.” helped to save 1,268 Tutsi & Paul R.” helped to save 1,268 Tutsi & Hutu refugees Hutu refugees

Paul RusesabaginaPaul Rusesabagina