Post 3: Timeline of the Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide, which took place in 1994, was a horrific event that unfolded over the course of approximately 100 days. The genocide was fueled by deep-seated ethnic tensions between two major groups in Rwanda: the Hutus and the Tutsis. The following timeline provides a brief overview of the key events during this tragic period:

1. April 6, 1994: President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, is killed after his plane is shot down. This event serves as a catalyst for the genocide, as extremist Hutu leaders seize the opportunity to execute their plan for mass extermination.

2. April 7, 1994: Within hours of Habyarimana's death, widespread violence erupts across the country. Hutu militias, backed by the government and Interahamwe (a militia group), begin carrying out systematic killings of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

3. April 21, 1994: The United Nations Security Council passes Resolution 912, which authorizes the deployment of UN peacekeepers to Rwanda. However, due to limited resources and a lack of political will, the international response to the genocide remains inadequate.

4. April 30, 1994: The UN peacekeeping force, known as UNAMIR, is reinforced with additional troops. However, its mandate focuses on protecting foreign nationals and providing humanitarian aid, rather than directly intervening to stop the killings.

5. June 2, 1994: The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi rebel group, captures the capital city, Kigali, effectively ending the genocide. Thousands of Hutu extremists and civilians flee the country, fearing reprisals from the RPF.

The Rwandan Genocide resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 people, primarily Tutsis but also moderate Hutus who opposed the violence. The international community's failure to intervene and the limited media coverage during the genocide have been subjects of criticism and reflection in the years that followed.

It is important to remember the Rwandan Genocide and its timeline to ensure that such atrocities are never repeated. By studying the events and understanding the contributing factors, we can strive for a future where ethnic tensions are resolved peacefully and the protection of human rights is a priority.

Sources:

• Gourevitch, P. (1998). We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
• Melvern, L. (2016). A People Betrayed: The Role of the West in Rwanda's Genocide. Zed Books.