Crisis Rwanda 1994 Basics of the Rwanda Crisis

Crisis: Rwanda, 1994

Basics of the Rwanda Crisis 1994 • Hutu rebels attempted to eliminate the Tutsi race in their country • Hutus slaughtered nearly 1 million Tutsis • About half of the Tutsis • This is a modern Genocide: killing of an race of people in attempt to wipe them off the planet

Why was there so much hatred? This was a new attempt at a new Holocaust… why didn’t anyone try to stop it?

Why were the HUTU people so mad? • Hutus were angry at Tutsis • Tutsis were a part of racist laws that discriminated against Hutus • Rwanda had been a colony of Belgium • Belgium used Tutsi minority to help rule • Hutus were a majority, but had no power

More background to the hatred • Prior to 1962 Independence, Hutus started attacking Tutsis • 100, 000 escaped to neighboring countries • They formed the Rwanda Patriotic Front army (RPF) • They attacked from the outside

Hutus prepare to eliminate the Tutsis • Every time the RPF attacked, the Hutu government retaliated with slaughter and repression of Tutsis • 1973 – a Hutu general overthrew the government in a military coup • He ruled as a dictator Juvénal Habyarimana

1990 s – peace to Civil War • Foreign investment grew the economy • Attacks diminished, population grew, all seemed OK. • Mostly, Hutus prospered, Tutsis did not • Suddenly, in 1990, the RPF attacked, a Civil War started, and weakened the President • 1993 – the Hutu President was forced to sign a peace treaty

The beginning of the conflict • Hutus were livid. Some formed civilian run militant group (Interhamwe) to combat RPF • 1994, a plane carrying the Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi was shot down • Hutus blamed RPF • Interhamwe coordinated attacks on Tutsis

The Rwanda Crisis, 1994 • Three armies in conflict: – RPF (Tutsi rebel army) – INTERHAMWE (civilian Hutu thugs) – RWANDA MILITARY (sided with Hutus) Show first 1. 5 min (or up to 5 m) • Extremist Hutu set up road blocks and killed all Tutsi and moderate Hutu • Forced civilians to take up arms and rat out neighbors • Tutsis were being exterminated

Murders grew to the thousands

Refugees grew the millions

Refugee camp

Why didn’t anyone do anything?

Something happened in neighboring Somalia in 1993 that caused us to not want to help ANYONE in Africa

Generous Americans • Americans had raised millions of $$ in 1985 • For Ethiopian starvation • One of the earliest groups to fund raise was the Council Rock SEB in 1984. • They raised thousands of $$ for rice and grain. • Led to LIVE AID 1985 • One of the most generous completely giving events ever • Americans started raising $$ again. For starving Somalians

Problem… • War Lords in Somalia confiscated grain • Sold for a profit • Food never got to the most needy

Americans were aghast. They wanted to help. The outgoing President, George Bush (Sr. ) wanted to help. The United States looked for someone to condemn.

Should America have helped? 1. Why not? . . . Or 2. How should we help?

1993, The President ordered US troops to find and neutralize the leading War Lords 25, 000 Americans were a part of a multi-national force, instructed to protect the innocent, and find and eliminate the War Lords preventing progress.

We were hailed as heroes. By everyone BUT the War Lords The War Lords panicked. They lied to their followers. They told them the Americans were there to attack, to kill their mothers and wives…