1. Rwanda and the Great Congo War, 1994-2004
HI177 | A History of Africa since 1800
Term 3 | Week 2 | Dr Sacha Hepburn

2. Lecture Outline Genocide in Context
The social structure of pre-colonial Rwanda
The impact of colonialism
The nature of the post-colonial state
100 Days
International Response
The aftermath of the genocide:
Justice and reconciliation
War in Democratic Republic of Congo

4. Paths to Violence 1 The social structure of pre-colonial Rwanda
Complex hierarchical society: minority Tutsi form monarchy, elites and middle classes; majority Hutu constitute the lower social order; Twa at the bottom of society
The impact of colonialism
First a German colony, then a mandate under Belgian rule
Colonisation leads to hardening of ethnic identities and boundaries
Hutu resentment steadily increases

5. A Belgian doctor examines a Rwandan man to determine his ‘race’

6. Paths to Violence 2
The nature of the post-colonial state: authoritarian, centralised
Hutu party win elections and hold power until 1994
1973 military coup brings Habyarimana to power
Social tensions increase as economy declines from 1980s
Tutsi refugees in Uganda seen as a threat to Hutu rule; formation of RPF and war with Rwanda
Arusha Accords (1993) propose power-sharing between Hutu-Tutsi

7. Identity cards from the post-colonial period in Rwanda

8. 100 Days
6 April 1994: plane carrying Habyarimana and Burundi’s President Cyprien Ntaryamira shot down
6-7 April: killings begin in Kigali, carried out by soldiers, police and Hutu militias
7 April: RPF resumes fighting against gov in north
April-early May: high-rate of killings across the country
May-early July: killings continue across country, slowly halted by RPF advance and capture of territory
4 July: RPF capture Kigali
July: RPF head northwest, pursuing genocide government into Zaire

9. Rwandan Patriotic Front troops advance, May 1994

10. Belgian troops prepare to inspect Kigali April 11, 1994

11. More than 8,000 Tutsis took shelter at the Niashishi refugee camp, south Rwanda, guarded by French soldiers, April 1994

12. International Responses
Journalists, radio broadcasters and TV news reporters covered the events live from Rwanda, until most were evacuated
Emphasis on ethnic tensions in press reports (encouraged by genocidaires)
UNAMIR (UN peacekeeping force) warned UN Security Council of genocide in January 1994 – Security Council denied request to intervene
Mid-May UN support granted but never materialised
November 1994: official international recognition of genocide by UN

13. Justice and Reconciliation
Rwanda has pursued various strategies for justice and reconciliation
The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) established by the UN in November 1994
Rwanda’s national court system
‘Gacaca’ traditional community court system
Amendments to Rwandan constitution
Establishment of large number of memorials within Rwanda

14. Child refugees near Goma, Eastern Zaire (now DRC), July 1994

15. Rwanda and the Great Congo War
April-June 1994: Genocide in Rwanda
June 1994: RPF take power in Rwanda, Hutus flee into Zaire. Rwanda's army enters eastern Zaire to pursue Hutu fighters
1997: Laurent Kabila, backed by Rwanda, takes power in Kinshasa
1998: Rwanda accuses Kabila of not acting against Hutu rebels and tries to topple him, sparking five years of conflict
2003: Second Congo War officially ends but Hutu and Tutsi militias continue to clash in eastern DR Congo

16. Rwandan Hutu refugees make their way to Mugunga refugee camp near Goma, Zaire, November 1996

17. Rwanda and the Great Congo War
April-June 1994: Genocide in Rwanda
June 1994: RPF take power in Rwanda, Hutus flee into Zaire. Rwanda's army enters eastern Zaire to pursue Hutu fighters
1997: Laurent Kabila, backed by Rwanda, takes power in Kinshasa
1998: Rwanda accuses Kabila of not acting against Hutu rebels and tries to topple him, sparking five years of conflict
2003: Second Congo War officially ends but Hutu and Tutsi militias continue to clash in eastern DR Congo

18. Conclusion Complex causes of the genocide
Colonialism and its impact on ethnicity
Post-colonial governance: authoritarian, persecution of Tutsi
Economic downturn of 1980s onwards
Tutsi ‘threat’ in Uganda and elsewhere, formation of RPF
Genocide took place within context of Rwandan civil war
Broader regional impacts
DRC
Burundi