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

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

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

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

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 1990-1993 Arusha Accords (1993) propose power-sharing between Hutu-Tutsi

Identity cards from the post-colonial period in Rwanda

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

Rwandan Patriotic Front troops advance, May 1994

Belgian troops prepare to inspect Kigali April 11, 1994

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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