COMMITTEE Historical Security Council (HSC)

ISSUE Question of Rwanda (1994)

PREPARED BY Lauren Zhou

INTRODUCTION TO THE TOPIC:

In Rwanda, the Hutus and the Tutsis emerged as two distinct ethnic groups before
recorded history, despite their shared language, culture, and religion. However, the
Belgians, Rwanda’s previous colonial power, considered the Tutsis to be the superior
ethnic group. With the Tutsis receiving better services and opportunities, the Hutu
nationalists eventually led a series of riots in 1959, resulting in the deaths of over
20,000 Tutsis, with even more Tutsis fleeing to neighboring countries. Ultimately,
when Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the Hutus stepped into power. Over the
following years, the Tutsis were neglected and blamed for any destruction or conflict.

DEFINITION OF ESSENTIAL TERMS

Hutus: ​Rwanda’s ethnic group constituting the majority of the country’s population.

Tutsis:​ Rwanda’s ethnic group constituting the minority of the country’s population.

Genocide:​ the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a

particular ethnic group or nation

Rwandan Patriotic Front:​ The ruling political party in Rwanda which largely
consisted of Tutsi refugees whose families had fled to Uganda after the 1959 Hutu
revolt against colonial rule.

Rwandan Civil War: Rwanda’s ​battle for power beginning in 1990 between the
Hutu-led government and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
Juvénal Habyarimana: ​President of Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War-
Habyarimana was shot and killed in 1994, marking the beginning of the Rwandan
Genocide.

Interahamwe​:​ The Interahamwe was a ​Hutu​ ​paramilitary​ organization. During the

Rwandan Genocide​, the ​Interahamwe ​fought against the Tutsis, and contributed to a
large number of fatalities associated with the genocide.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) was formed in Uganda in 1988, with the intention
of overthrowing Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana. Eventually on October 1,
1990 the RPF invaded Rwanda, marking the beginning of Rwanda’s civil war. During
the context of the war, the Rwandan Genocide officially began when Habyarimana’s
plane was shot, and he was killed in April, 1994. Although, the group behind the
crash hadn’t been established, the Hutu-centric government used the Tutsis as
scapegoats, defining the event as a catalyst for the notorious Rwandan Genocide.
Hutu nationalists based in Kigali played a pivotal role in​ the spread of the genocide
throughout Rwanda, as they brutally murdered Tutsis with the intent of forcing them
out of the country. In hindsight, records show that approximately 500,000-1,000,000
Tutsi civilians and Hutu moderates were slaughtered over the period of 100 days.
Thus, the Rwandan genocide is now known as the second ​most severe episode of
ethnic genocide in history, following the Holocaust.

PRINCIPAL COUNTRIES INVOLVED

Rwanda:
Based in Rwanda, the genocide involved two distinct ethnic groups (the Hutus and
Tutsis). The Rwandan government, alongside soldiers and police officers urged
ordinary citizens to take part. In some cases, Hutu civilians were forced to murder
their Tutsi neighbours, as promulgated by the Rwandan government.

Belgium:
As a previous colonial power in Rwanda, Belgium continued to maintain strong
connections with Rwanda years after colonization. Thus during the Rwandan
Genocide, t​he ​United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda​ was mainly comprised
of Belgian soldiers.

France:
France openly supported Habyarimana and his efforts against the RPF rebels.
France had also been directly involved with the conflict, supplying, ​organizing, and
training Rwandan troops who ultimately formed the Interahamwe. France also
endorsed the peace process between the Rwandan government and their opposition.

China:
China, like France, also supplied the government with military arms, subsequently
fueling the genocide. It is often argued that if France and China had not been
involved in the conflict, the United Nations could have prevented further escalation of
the genocide.

The United States:

The USA refused to take action or be involved with the conflict at hand. As an
influential country, the USA’s action could have prevented further violence- the lack of
their presence was palpable. However, the United States did not want to be involved
due to their defeat in Somalia in 1933.

*The Rwandan Genocide is notoriously known as a conflict with little international

involvement. Many countries unfortunately disregarded the genocide.

MAJOR EVENTS DATES

December, 1988:
The RPF is formed in Uganda

October 1, 1990:
The RPF invades Rwanda, marking the start of the Rwandan Civil War
April 6, 1994: ​ Rwandan President, Juvénal Habyarimana dies as a result of a plane
shooting. The Hutu-centric government accuses the Tutsis for the incident, making
the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide.

April 9, 1994:
Massacre at Gikondo - hundreds of Tutsis are killed in the Pallottine Missionary
Catholic Church.

April 15-16, 1994:

Massacre at the Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church - thousands of Tutsi are killed

April 18, 1994:

The Kibuye Massacres- approximately 62,000 Tutsis are killed.

April 28-29:
A large population of Tutsis flee to Tanzania.

May 23, 1994​:

The RPF takes control of the Presidential Palace.

July 5, 1994:
The French attempt to mitigate violence by creating a safe zone in southwest
Rwanda.

July 13, 1994:

A large population of Hutus flee to Zaire (present-day Democratic Republic of the
Congo).

Mid-July 1994:
The RPF gains control of the country, marking the end of the Rwandan Genocide

PREVIOUS UN RESOLUTIONS/TREATIES (when/what/outcome)

United Nations Security Council Resolution 812 (1993):

Called on the Rwandan Government and the RPF to engage in a ceasefire, and
urged both parties in Rwanda to respect International Humanitarian Law

UN Security Council Resolution 872 (1993):

Stressed the need for international aid within Rwanda, leading to the establishment of
the ​United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda​ (UNAMIR). The UNAMIR aimed
to assist in the implementation of the ​Arusha Accords​, with the goal of ending the
Rwandan Civil War
UN

United Nations Security Council Resolution 912 (1994):

Proposed a revised mandate of the UNAMIR, and reinforced previous UN resolutions
and efforts in Rwanda

United Nations Security Council Resolution 925 (1994):

Extended the mandate of the UNAMIR to December 1994, and requested for
additional military units in Rwanda

United Nations Security Council Resolution 965 (1994):

Further extended the mandate of the UNAMIR to June of 1995, and also ordered for
monitors in Rwanda to prevent human rights violations, as well as assist the return of
Rwandan refugees.

USEFUL WEBSITES/VIDEOS to view

https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994

https://www.nytimes.com/topic/destination/rwandan-genocide

https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140407-rwanda-genocide-today-
anniversary/

https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2015/09/rwanda-hatred-recon
ciliation-150929140405404.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWcKnp-e-ow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iGxre5G3_k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V82i_dpKos

http://www.un.org/en/sc/documents/resolutions/1993.shtml

http://www.un.org/en/sc/documents/resolutions/1994.shtml

REFERENCES to works consulted

“Rwanda: How the Genocide Happened.” ​BBC News,​ BBC, 17 May 2011,
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-1343148

“Civil War Erupts in Rwanda.” ​History.com,​ A&E Television Networks,

www.history.com/this-day-in-history/civil-war-erupts-in-rwanda​.

“Resolutions Adopted by the Security Council in 1994.” ​United Nations,​ United

Nations, ​www.un.org/en/sc/documents/resolutions/1994.shtml​.

“Resolutions Adopted by the Security Council in 1993.” ​United Nations,​ United

Nations, ​www.un.org/en/sc/documents/resolutions/1993.shtml​.

“Rwandan Genocide.” ​History.com,​ A&E Television Networks, 2009,

www.history.com/topics/rwandan-genocide​.