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The Rwandan Genocide 100 Days of Slaughter April 6, 1994-July 18, 1994

The Rwandan Genocide 100 Days of Slaughter April 6, 1994-July 18, 1994. Source: David Simon, The Teaching of Africa, PIER, Yale University , July 11, 2005. Ethnic Groups. Tutsi = Belgian favored minority – given better social class when under colonial rule

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The Rwandan Genocide 100 Days of Slaughter April 6, 1994-July 18, 1994

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  1. The Rwandan Genocide100 Days of SlaughterApril 6, 1994-July 18, 1994 Source: David Simon, The Teaching of Africa, PIER, Yale University , July 11, 2005

  2. Ethnic Groups • Tutsi = Belgian favored minority – given better social class when under colonial rule • Hutu = Ethnic majority. Belgians eventually favor them when Tutsi’s push for independence in 1959 • Twa = 3rd party

  3. Hutu Extremists • RTLM – Radio station, extreme “Hutu Power” • Claimed “These Tutsi cockroaches are out to kill us. Do not trust them…we Hutu’s must act first! Every Hutu must join together to rid Rwanda of these Tutsi cockroaches! Hutu Power! Hutu Power!” • RPF and Paul Kigame: Tutsi Rebels in Uganda – Threaten to invade if Tutsi’s hurt • Hutu’s keep a “list” of who is Tutsi

  4. The Beginning • Started with a plane crash (April 6, 1994) • 2 Presidents killed • Juvenal Habyarimana (Rwanda) • Cyprian Ntayamira (Burundi) • Two men were in Rwanda trying to end bloody clashes between Hutu and Tutsi

  5. The beginning • Hutu extremists are considered responsible for the crash • President of Rwanda was about to sign a Peace Accord • The extremists disapproved • Killed Hutu president Habyaramina

  6. Interahamwe • Extremist Hutu Thugs – Roam streets of Rwanda with death lists • Did not like Rwandan presidents attempt to make peace with RPF and Kigame

  7. The killings begin • The same night of the plane crash • The Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and Hutu militia begin killing Tutsis and Hutu moderates

  8. The killings begin • Roadblocks set up to capture Tutsis and Hutu moderates • Machetes are the weapon of choice for killings

  9. In Between • Brutality period in between • Genocide of the Tutsi population by the radical Hutu population

  10. “Kill them, kill them, kill them all; kill them big and kill them small! Kill the old and kill the young…a baby snake is still a snake, kill it too, let none escape! Kill them, kill them, kill them all” • “These Tutsi snakes are hiding in grass and bushes…so make sure that you have your machetes ready to chop the snakes in half…the child of a snake is a snake so kill it too” • Friends, neighbors, teachers chanting this phrase as the killings take place

  11. The role of the U.N. • Forbidden to intervene • Only allowed to “monitor” the situation

  12. The killing of Belgian soldiers • 10 Belgian soldiers who work for the United Nations • Guarding the Hutu prime minister at his home • Hutu radicals kill him and the Belgian soldiers

  13. The End • Ended with a rebel victory • Rwandan Patriotic Army chase out FAR (Tutsis) • Genocide ended with their victory • 800,000 people killed

  14. International Context, III: post-genocide • Regional instability • First Congo War, 1996-97 • Second Congo War, 1998-2003

  15. Why study Rwanda • A unique case…? • …Or one that’s all too common? • International politics • Classic parable of state-society relations • Human interaction

  16. Defining Genocide • The Question of Genocide • Definition: • any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: • (a) Killing 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 bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; • (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; • (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. • One or Two? • Elimination of Tutsis was an explicit goal • Massacres of Hutus not part of an elimination plan • Or Zero?: Are Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups?

  17. Causes ‘Ethnic Conflict’ • Historical Relations • Pre-colonial • Origins: the wrong question • Feudal relations, with reciprocal obligations • Violable boundary • Core-periphery more relevant • Colonial • Germans: racialist ideology • Belgians: indirect rule • No reciprocality, Rigid boundaries (ID cards) • Late switch: “Hutu Revolution” • Post-Colonial • Purges, exile, and the triumph of extremism

  18. Proximate Causes, II: Economic Crisis • Growth in ’70s and ’80s • But dependent on: • Coffee • Aid • Uvin: Structural violence • winners: • Hutus from NW • Tutsis in Kigali • Losers: • Everybody else • Diamond: Malthusian Pressures • Landlord/landless gulf

  19. Proximate Causes, III: Pressures on the Regime • Economic reform program • Effect: less tolerance of corruption • Pressure for democratization • Effect: Moderate alternative to MNRD • Effect: Extremist fear of moderation • Effect: Majoritarianism without bounds -- ‘Rubanda Nyamwishi’ • RPF Invasion • Effect: Fulfills prophecies of Tutsi aggression • Effect: ≈ 1 million Internally Displaced Persons (mostly Hutu)

  20. Proximate Causes, IV: Arusha Peace Process • Theory • Find a governing coalition based on moderates • Use regional pressure to enforce peace • UN force to keep peace until new govt. sits • Reality • Extremists’ exclusion breeds desperation • Regional powers weak and/or interested • UN force underpowered

  21. International Context, I: Pre-genocide • Arusha Process • Burundi • From Model to Coup • UN Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) • Recommended: about 10,000 a.s.a.p. • Proposed: 5200 starting 9/93 • Actual: • no one before 10/93 • minimal equipment before 1/94 • Maximum force of 2500 (in April 1994)

  22. International Context, II: During • United Nations • Ten Belgians killed immediately • Forces (mostly) withdrawn, 4/20/94 • UNAMIR II • United States • Denial • Non-cooperation • Obstruction of UNAMIR II • France • Clearly on FAR/interim government side • Intervention: Operation Turquoise • Effect: genocidaires escape to Zaire • Africa • No force to muster

  23. Impact, I: International Relations • Regional Instability • New norms of continental relations • AU replaces OAU • Rwandan profile in African affairs • New attitude toward genocide ? • Test: Darfur

  24. Impact, II: Justice • ICTR • First Genocide Conviction • First recognition of rape as an offense of genocide • 60+ indictments • Rwandan courts • 125,000 detainees • 2000 cases handled after 4 years • Gacaca: ‘justice on the grass’ • Countrywide • Informal • Conciliatory ?

  25. Impact, III: Political and Social Reconstruction • The Challenges • Communities, neighbors, families – a nation • Truth and reconciliation? • Eradication of ethnic distinctions • Viability • Countervailing tendency: use of genocide experience as source of legitimacy • Cynical view: use of ‘divisiveness’ accusation to consolidate power

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