International Reactions to the Rwandan Genocide
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
FUN FACT
- Nearly one million ethnic Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed as the international community and UN peacekeepers stood by
- This could’ve been easily prevented
Photo by gil.serpereau
UNAMIR
- Was intended to assist in the implementation of the Arusha Accords, signed on 4 August 1993, which was meant to end the Rwandan Civil War
- Failed to prevent the Rwandan genocide and outbreak of fighting
- United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda
Photo by The Dilly Lama
AMERICAN INVOLVEMENT
Photo by Luke Michael
Why did America not intervene?
- Previously, the US was involved in the Somalian civil war
- Somalian Rebels took down two American Black Hawk helicopters in 1993 killing18 soldiers
- After the deaths of Americans in Somalia, the US became less involved in the intervention of the world’s humanitarian problems
- Led to a bad response from the US to the Rwandan Genocide
Photo by manhhai
MORE INFORMATION
- US had the opportunity to intervene before the genocide began, but didn’t because they feared military consequences
- They knew, through an informant, that the Hutus were stockpiling weapons. But the UN refused to raid the warehouse because it was “out” of the UNAMIR’s mandate
- US did not want to get involved in peacekeeping operations with the UN, causing them to back out
Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino
WHAT DID THEY DO TO HELP?
- Spent $320 million in emergency relief for Rwandan refugees
- Shipped 100,000 metric tons of food
- Spent $250 on humanitarian aid
- Supplied airlifts
Photo by Pepi Stojanovski
FUN FACT
- The US Embassy in Rwanda claims that today, “The United States is committed to work with our Rwandan and international friends to help Rwanda meet the needs of its population, including increased social cohesion in a peaceful, democratic, and inclusive Rwanda that provides good governance and an economically enabling environment
- Although, they never mention anything about their involvement in the genocide
Photo by Jolly Jolson
FRANCE INVOLVEMENT
BEFORE THE GENOCIDE
- France was a reluctant ally of Rwanda, was suspicious of the Tutsi led rebel militia, aka the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front)
- The Hutu president, Habyarimana, viewed France as his main ally against the Tutsi’s rebel force
- France knew that the RPF were hiding surface-to-air missiles in Uganda to try and restore power to the Tutsis
Photo by danielfoster437
Operation Amaryllis
- The President of Rwanda, Habyarimana, got killed as Tutsi powers shot down his plane
- Within 36 hours of Habyarimana’s death, France soldiers had started evacuating French citizens and allies living in Rwanda
- During evacuation, French soldiers destroyed archives of business between Rwanda and France
- It’s thought that this operation was in place to hide connections between France and the Hutu regime
Photo by atxryan
OPERATION TURQUOISE
- France asked America if they could use their planes to fly supplies into Rwanda, but America refused
- France searched for and aided refugees
- Although they helped the Tutsis, some French soldiers were still very skeptical of and even killed some of the Tutsis because they assumed they were apart of the RPF
- Hutu celebrated when the French arrived in Rwanda
Photo by climatalk
BELGIUM INVOLVEMENT
BELGIUM INFLUENCE
- Rwanda was originally a Belgium colony
- The Begians were the first to split the Rwandans into the three ethnic groups: Tutsi, Hutu and Twa
- Made the Hutu majority the dominant power in Rwanda
- Belgians separated Hutus and Tutsis in terms of ethnicity rather than the political status that had already been present
- Caused hatred among the two groups
REACTION TO THE GENOCIDE
- As the slaughter of Tutsi increased, Belgium suggested that the UN start to focus on only helping foreigners escape and not Rwandans
- Later on, the Belgians ostensibly entered Rwanda to help and aid refugees/Rwandans
- However, they did not contribute much
- Was one of the first contributors to the UNAMIR, but mission ultimately failed
- Rwanda was left on its own
Photo by schacon
