Persian Gulf, Somalia, Yugoslavia & Rwanda

1. Persian Gulf, Somalia, Yugoslavia & Rwanda Readings: Counterpoints p. 274-279

2. I. Peacekeeping Missions • What is Peacekeeping ? • defined as negotiating settlements and keeping warring factions apart. • New Role of the UN • Use of military force (where necessary) to keep peace and punish aggressors • UN would be guided by USA • 4 Case Studies of Peacekeeping • Persian Gulf • Yugoslavia • Somalia • Rwanda

3. II. The Persian Gulf • Main Players • Iraq (Saddam Hussein) • USA (George Bush Sr.) • Cnd PM at the time was Brian Mulroney • Location of the Crisis • A region in the Middle East • Note the location of Kuwait & Iraq • Historical Background • Long history of religious conflicts & territorial wars among Middle Eastern nations

4. The Persian Gulf continued… D. The Crisis • August 1, 1990 Iraq invaded Kuwait • a country it had once controlled • Rationale: Iraq also accused Kuwait of producing more oil than allowed under quotas set by the OPEC, • thereby depressing the price of oil, Iraq’s main export • UN saw this as an act of aggression (by Iraq) against a smaller neighbor • UN comes to Kuwait’s defense through… • Sanctions against Iraq (led by USA) • Basically cut off oil trade • Sanctions unsuccessful… next step was… • Operation Desert Storm • Defined as a massive military coalition (included Canada) • Cnd participation through sending ships & fighter planes to patrol area

5. The Persian Gulf Continued… E. Conclusion of Crisis • Allied forces intensify the attack from air using missiles followed by ground war • Bush orders a cease fire Feb 1991 • Iraq in ruins, economy shattered • Sanctions continued b/c Hussein still in power & said to be tormenting his people • Hussein doesn’t comply with cease-fire • Hostilities continued & so did sanctions… • Currently in a state of rebuilding by coalition forces • Saddam Hussein captured Dec 2003 http://www.history.com/videos/operation-desert-storm-vet-jon-custer#operation-desert-storm-vet-jon-custer Iraqis explore the aftermath of a night of bombing by coalition forces in the Persian Gulf War. Kuwaiti Oil Wells on Fire

6. III. Yugoslavia A. Historical Background • Recall that after WWI, Yugoslavia was created • It brought together territories with different ethnicities, languages & religions. • 3 main conflicting groups: • Serbs – Eastern Orthodox Christians • Croats & Slovenians –Catholic • Kosovars –Islamic • The Yugoslav federation began to unravel as individual regions & ethnic groups called for independence. • Civil war results!

7. B. Slovenia & Croatia declare independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 (Note that these 2 areas are crossed off on your map of Yugoslavia) • Goes smoothly for Slovenia b/c it was an ethnically homogeneous region • Croatia in full scale warfare May-June 1991 • Rebel Serb forces quickly left Slovenia & headed to Croatia to fight • Serbians (led by President Slobodan Milosevic) vs Croatians (President Franjo Tudman) • Serbians try to eliminate Muslims & Croats from Serbian communities through ethnic cleansing.

8. C. Macedonia declares independence (Jan 1992) • No wars erupt in this area. • Notice the shrinking territory of Yugoslavia on the map. D. Bosnia declares independence (April 1992) • Problem: ethnically diverse population • Serbs (Orthodox) • Bosniaks (Muslim) • Croats (Catholic) • Fighting from 1992-1995 • *Main fighting btw Bosnian & Serb forces • *Note that there are competing versions of this war

9. E. 1992 UN Responses • UNPROFOR • Cnd Major General Lewis Mackenzie led mission to keep the Sarajevo airport in Bosnia open for relief shipments (i.e. medical supplies) • Croatians begin attacking Canadian forces • Imposed harsh economic sanctions against Serbia as a result of attacks • Ceasefire negotiated then ignored F. Enter: NATO implemented military action • Dayton Accord 1995 • Named as such b/c the US sponsored the peace talks in Dayton Ohio • This is signed by all warring parties & ends the wars. • The Dayton Accord terms are • Creation of Bosnia state w/ two parts (Croat-Muslim Federation & Serbian Republic) • Appointment of Canadian, Louise Arbour to Lead UN’s International Criminal Tribunal to address the ethnic cleansing issue • Freedom of movement for all people • Enforcement of the Accord by NATO ground forces

10. H. Kosovo • Background: • Kosovo was an independent province of Serbia • 90% was ethnic Albanian, aka Kosovar, aka Islamic • Recall that Serbians are Orthodox • 1989 Slobodan Milosevic alters Serb Constitution • Took away independence from Kosovo • Gave gov’t jobs to Serb minority • Changed language rights • Put Serbian army in area to patrol them • Kosovars (Islamics) felt it was their ancestral home being taken away • Develop a civilian army called the, “Kosovo Liberation Army” • War • Serbs involved in ethnic cleansing • Satellite photos of mass graves

11. I. NATO Involved (1998) • October: Air strike on Serbian forces for 78 days • Kosovo reinstated as an autonomous province • NATO supervised the removal of Serbian forces in area • Returned Kosovar refugees to area J. Jan 1999 Serbian forces erupt again • This time in the village of Racak • Milosevic refuses NATO forces in the area • Ethnic cleansing of Kosovar Albanians again! K. NATO involved (March 1999) • Massive bombing campaign against Yugoslavia • Note: UN Security council did not authorize the action! • Milosevic agrees to ceasefire • June 1999, Kosovo is rid of all Yugoslav forces

12. L. Canadian Contribution in Kosovo • Flew CF-18 missions to ‘delay, isolate, neutralize, or destroy’ Serbian military • Provided air surveillence • Accepted more than 5600 Kosovo refugees • Contributed $500 million to effort • PM Chretien led efforts to get Russia on the UN’s side on this matter. • (Recall Russia supported Serbia… “Pan-Slavism”) • Mixed feelings at home b/c of Canada’s ethnically diverse population.

13. IV. Somalia 1992 • Historical Background • Civil war & famine within country • UN Operation called UNOSOM (United Nations Operations in Somalia) were sent to: • provide secure environment for humanitarian relief operations • Monitor the March 1992 ceasefire agreement between warring parties • Canada sends CAR (Canadian Airborne Regiment) –an elite combat unit with no experience in peacekeeping. • UNOSOM is struggling b/c • Anarchy in Somalia • Food supplies looted by warring factions • Ceasefire failed & UN was stuck in the middle between 2 warring parties http://www.history.com/videos/operation-desert-storm-vet-jon-custer#the-true-story-of-blackhawk-down

14. III. Somalia Continued… B. The Crisis for CAR • A separate, rebel group forms from CAR • Called ‘the Rebels’ • Became involved in • Beating a Somali teenager for stealing supplies • Torturing another Somali for 3 hours • Execution style killings • Took trophy pictures of the assault • Media attention results in Cnd Govt to disband CAR & called the “Somalia Commission of Inquiry” • Found a failure in leadership • Cover up was uncovered • Changes to military training • Investigations to those in command

15. V. Rwanda, 1990-1994 • Main Players • Rwanda • Tutsi (a minority upper class group) • Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) • Hutuu (a majority lower class) • Canada/the UN • Geographic Location of the Crisis • Central Africa’s “Great Lakes” region • bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania

16. C. Historical Background of the Crisis • Rift exists between Tutsi & Hutuu b/c… • (Pre WWI) The Belgians used the Tutsi to enforce Belgian laws • forced labour policies and stringent taxes • Belgians used the Tutsi as buffers against Hutuu people's anger, • in order to escape tax harassment by the Tutsi & hunger, the Hutuu migrated to neighbouring countries • Whenever one group is forced to leave because of another group, you can bet on some hostilities coming up later! • 1962 Rwanda gains independence from Belgium • Hutuu gains power in government • Tutsi now nervous b/c Hutuu are in power & can seek revenge on Tutsi for the past • Now the Tutsi starts mass emigration (seeking refuge in neighbouring states) http://www.history.com/videos/rwanda-the-world-reacts#rwanda-background-to-genocide

17. Events leading up to the crisis • October 1990, Tutsi-dominated Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded Rwanda in an attempt to regain control of the government from the Hutuu • Hutuu gov’t officials responded by launching a radio station campaign that began anti-Tutsi propaganda (claiming that the Tutsi were trying to re-enslave the Hutuus) • On April 6 1994, Rwandan president is assassinated • Rwandan Genocide Begins. • The target? Tutsi and Hutuu moderates were being killed by Hutuu Extremists! • Mass exodus to Tanzania & Zaire (refugees)

18. E. United Nations Response 1. UN RESPONSE 1: • The United Nations sent a peacekeeping force named the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), • under the leadership of Canadian General Roméo Dallaire. • UNAMIR was vastly under-funded and under-staffed. • Dallaire Sent the ‘genocide fax’ to UN headquarters about the Tutsi extermination but this went ignored 2. UN RESPONSE 2: • U.N. member states refused to answer UNAMIR's requests for increased troops and money. • Meanwhile, French & Belgian troops were sent. It wasn’t very effective and resulted in the endangering of their lives.