DBWI : 1 year anniversary of Interahamwe being overthrown after 15 years in power.

[Axeman]

Quite a tragic thing.

Its estimated by the UN humanitarian relief organization that 99% of all ethnic Tutsis in Rwanda and 91% in Burundi *probably only because the genocide only spread to Burundi in 1996*.

Anyway today, May 6th, marks the 1st anniversary of the Interahamwe being out of power, and the things they did make pol pot and Hitler look tame. It didn't seem to just be a minority of radicals like in Germany or Cambodia, the Interahamwe literally managed to mobilize at least a THIRD of the country to engage in genocide in one matter or another, and that is the conservative UN estimate.

To be honest its a shame, the Tutsi Rebel Army made it to the outskirts of Kigali within the first few weeks of the start of the genocide, but unfortunately they managed to fail and were driven back.

What are your thoughts on this whole manner?


Time line off of Wikipedia for those of you unfamiliar with the matter :

1987-The RPF is founded from disgruntled Tutsis living in refugee camps in Uganda by Tutsi dissidents in the Ugandan Military and has support of the Tutsi refugees and are well trained in the Ugandan Military.

1989- The RPF cross into northern Rwanda sparking off the civil war, their demands include the end to identity cards and ethnic segregation.

1990- Both Zaire and France send elements to help stop the RPF, the French begin to extensively train and arm the FAR *Hutu government army* to stop them.

1991- The RPF continue to fight on despite battering defeats, Zaire invests the entire Elite Presidential Division to training the FAR to keep ethnic violence out of Zaire. The result is a more powerful Hutu Government army then before.

1993- Peace accords supposedly end the civil war as mediated by Tanzania, the accords fail in the first round. RTLN radio station "Hutu Power" begins broadcasting anti-Tutsi propaganda

1994- On the way back from the 2nd round of accords the presidential jet carrying both the President of Rwanda and Burundi. This event begins the rise of the Interahamwe government and genocide. The Interahamwe with elements of the Hutu Army begin conducting a genocide against the Tutsi ethnicity. The Hutu army finds itself split as rouge elements attempt to stop the genocide and end up fleeing into Burundi or Tanzania. This infighting allows the RPF to advance to within 30 miles of Kigali, but the advance fails when moderate elements of the FAR flee into Burundi giving the Interahamwe and the rest of the FAR a free hand.

1995- The RPF and moderate elements of FAR unite and form the FLR *Front for the Liberation of Rwanda* and launch a new offensive to stop the genocide in full swing. The FAR still remains officially in control of the country, but begin to arm the Interahamwe extensively. The Interahamwe and FAR stop the advance of the third advance of rebels in the Rwandan Civil War. The Impuzamugambi who had worked closely with the Interahamwe are completely integrated togather.

1996- The Interahamwe and FAR begin reprisals against "moderate Hutus" and the Twa of the country. The Interahamwe later in the year also completely manage to phase out the FAR and the Interahamwe become a huge player of authority in the Rwandan government as "representatives of the armed struggle of the average Hutu" , in name the Interahamwe and Hutu Army are separate, they often work in close proximity with the Interahamwe calling the shots.

1997- With an estimated 95 % of Hutus and 25% overall dead in Rwanda and ethnic tension still mounting in Burundi, the Interahamwe begin regularly and openly crossing the borders of Burundi. The UN and Tanzania both are delayed with inaction as they use the excuse that they are perusing rebels in a domestic civil war. This results in the Interahamwe being able to openly peruse an anti-Tutsi civil war.

1998- Following a military coup in Bujumbura with the Interahamwe and FTLN exasperating racial tensions the FLR are ejected from Burundi and flee into Tanzania or Zaire. Genocides begin in Burundi. Under the grounds that "racial genocide and ethnic violence, never supported by the government of Rwanda, have declined significantly"*because there are less to kill*, the French begin to re-arm the Hutu Army, now under the thumb of the Interahamwe.

1999- The Interahamwe begin to regularly cross Ugandan borders and attack Tutsi refugee camps. The LRA of Uganda makes a tacit agreement with the Interahamwe to stay out of each others way. Genocides in Burundi continue en masse while in Rwanda the Interahamwe begin a brutal campaign of finding the few Tutsis inside the country.

2000- Following a US air strike on targets in Bujumbura and Kigali both Zaire and Uganda, both resentful over the refugee crisis emerging in their borders, openly support the FLR who make a new dash for Kigali, the effort fails.

2001- Genocide continues in both Rwanda and Burundi. Burundi finds itself in a chaotic situation as not only the Interahamwe are fighting the FLR inside the country, but the military is fighting with itself over how to treat the Tutsi and the Tutsi are mounting an armed resistance in the south of the country. The Interahamwe begin to move into Burundi en masse and spread the genocide there.

2002- With arrival of the Interahamwe and the 2nd expelling of FLR and moderate Burundian troops from the country the rate of genocide against Tutsis climbs to the same levels it was in 1994. The UN proposes an intervention force on the grounds of destruction of national sovereignty, not genocide. The measure fails in the UN.

2003- the FLR merges with moderate elements of the Burundian military and forms the UFCLRB *union for complete liberation of Rwanda and Burundi* . 2003 witnesses a 4th attempt by Tanzania to end the genocide, however with international attention turned towards Iraq little gets done.

2004- The UFCLRB begins to receive volunteers and training from Tanzania. The year is marked with several more controversial border crossing actions into Rwanda and Burundi by Tanzania and into Uganda by the Interahamwe

2005- The Interahamwe in Burundi suffer a series of defeats as the former, primarily Tutsi military, begins to make a new drive on Bujumbura with help of most of the various elements of the UFCLRB who had decided in shifting the war to the south.

2006- the UFCLRB enter Bujumbura in triumph and proclaim a new republic, weary of mistakes made in the past by openly promoting Tutsi aristocratic behaviors the government keeps quiet. The war in Rwanda enters a new phase as Rwanda declares war against the "unjust Tutsi dominated regime of Burundi". The war will be characterized by an indecisive sea-saw action between Burundi and the UFCLR *renamed to drop Burundi* against Rwanda.

2007- The UFCLR begins to gather support from Tanzania and continues to engage the Interahamwe in geurilla raids. The UFCLR gain support of Tutsi refugees and those who had not deserted the Ugandan Army, plus who who had fled to Congo, and the Tanzanian Army for a last desperate push to save Rwanda.

2008- The grand offensive planed on 3 sides fails spectacularly. UFCLR morale dwindles to nothing as it is estimated that 98% of all Tutsis in Rwanda are already dead and the other 2% in the UFCLR. In July the UFCLR flees into Tanzania and Uganda again, however this time the Interahamwe, incorrectly sensing complete victory against them AND Burundi chase them into Tanzania, Tanzania says no more.

2009- Tanzanian forces drive the Interahamwe out of Tanzania and just like with Uganda in 1979 are greeted as liberators and Tanzania once again receives a boost in prestige. This boost in prestige does not change the massive ammounts of civillian casualties.

2010- After the fall of the Interahamwe in Rwanda and Burundi they flee into Eastern Zaire, were fighting still continues to this day.

OOC : the basis for the time line has been written by me, if you have any critiques or want to add something, post it in this format and copy everything per year you want changed and added, and if I agree Ill post it in the main time line and give you credit.

 

[Rediv]

The real shame is in the fact that the rest of the world just turned its back on Rwanda. Sure, Clinton and Bush and the whole gang would get up in front of the microphones and condemn the killing and call for restraint and blah blah, but no one lifted a damn finger to save those poor people.

 

[Axeman]

Exactly.

Even when the genocide spread to Burundi, Southern Uganda, and Eastern Zaire all the UN did was impose sanctions, that doesn't really stop men with machetes living off the land does it?

 

[Axeman]

OOC : nobody likes this topic idea ?

 

[Rediv]

OOC: I like it a lot! I just dont know a whole lot about Rwanda, so there's not much I can add. You seem to have some ideas brewing though, and if you spun out the story a bit, I'm sure it would make for very interesting reading.

 

[Spengler]

isn't it great that we went after the serbs who were kicking people off their lands and yet we didn't lift a figure about what the Interahamwe did. Just shows how little the world cares about africa.

 

[danwild6]

The rebels would have succeeded had France not intervened and driven them back. I know I'm going to be flamed for that but its obvious why France went in.

Before the conflict France was friendly to the Hutu government and supplied and trained the Hutu army which assisted in the genocide. France went in under a UN mandate to stop the killing and enforce a ceasefire.

However having driven the Tutsi's back and begun ceasefire negotiations they did nothing to stop the Interahamwe. Until it was to late that is, convincing the Hutu extremists to offer a power sharing deal to the Tutsi's, all 20 that were left. What can be said done when confronted with such evil.

 

[Axeman]

Exactly.

The Interahamwe started out as a civilian malita, elements of the professional army when they were backed by Zaire and France rebelled and fought alongside the Patriotic Front to stop the genocide, but all attempts failed.

Eventually the Interahamwe seized control of the government and military itself.

 

[Minchandre]

isn't it great that we went after the serbs who were kicking people off their lands and yet we didn't lift a figure about what the Interahamwe did. Just shows how little the world cares about africa.

Well, the Serbs were in Europe. Plus, as a part of the former Communist-bloc, it was a great place for NATO to stretch their legs and show everyone what a true strategic bombing campaign looks like. Could you imagine the West applying similar measures in Rwanda? It would never work, and then you'd have to send in land troops and it would be Vietnam all over again, except even worse. Look at how horribly the French ended up doing; after taking 70% casualties in their infantry and armor, they pulled all ground forces out. Their vaunted ceasefire was essentially enforced by 24/7 aerial surveillance coupled with bombing the shit out of any apparent gunfire. I've heard people say that, on a daily basis, the French were actually worse than Interahamwe as far as killing civilians, and while I'm sure I believe it, it was certainly a hell of a way to do it. Plus, it cost France how many billions of francs? And didn't almost keep them out of the Euro zone?

That said, I feel like something more ought to have been done...but what?

 

[Riain]

OOC, I know a bloke who was there with the Army and saw the shit hit the fan.

 

[Blitzhund]

US involvement was on shaky ground after the failed UN mission in Somalia. Pitched battles between the UNAMIR forces (comprising mainly of Belgium, Bangladeshi and Canadian forces) in Kigali between the Interhamwe, elements of the Rwandan military and UNAMIR which resulted in around 350 UN casualties led to a withdrawal by all. Dallaire himself, in his autobigraphy "Shake Hands with the Devil" describes at one point the Interhamwe militia hacking to death a number of UN medical staff because the had treated Belgium and Tutsi wounded. With no mandate for force Dallaire states in his book "Our forces' hands were tied, the Belgium soldiers couldn't be seen to be supporting the RPF or risk a complete escalation and the UN in New York had no backbone. This mission was doomed before I left Toronto because it had no real support."

How can you blame the world for not wanting to be involved in the middle of such a slaughter?

Don't get me wrong the 1,200,000 total dead in Rwanda (or about 30% of its total population) and the near anhilation of Tutsis in almost all of Rwanda is a terrible thing. If it weren't for the intervention of Tanzania in the southern provinces of Rwanda, I would suspect that the only ethnic Tutsi population living would be that outside of Rwandas national borders.

Even with Interhamwe having been overthrown they are by no means finished as a political entity though the nation's appetite for violence has burned out. At this point, even more conciliatory gestures from the RDF (Rwandan Democratic Front - The Centre-Left Party created in 2002 that eventually led to the Interhamwe demise) to Tutsis that have fled abroad or that are living in the southern hill provinces would fall on deaf ears.

As far as the French involvement, I'm not sure what the previous poster was getting at? The only French incident that involved the direct death of civilians was the Kibeho incident where an off target bomb, actually designed to deter (in the strictest sense) the Interhamwe that were approaching the camp, struck inside the camp itself. Whilst tragic and a huge mistake of the pilot, this resulted in around 3,500 deaths and not the 900,000 (estimates) that are attributed directly to the Interhamwe. After this incident, and with growing international scrutiny on French links to some of the more notorious Hutus leaders France distanced itself. France actually helped sponsor the Sabena led initiative (surely you know about the medicine for Tutsis Kigali deal made with Interhamwe?) supplying fuel, planes and most importantly money for the medicine used as a bargaining tool.

The violence in Burundi was short lived thanks to calmer heads that helm of government there and the direct involvement of South Africa and then President Bill Clinton as a negotiator. I'm not certain where you arrived at the 91% figure for deaths of ethnic Tutsis but by research (see wikipedia) around 55,000 deaths on both sides resulted from this conflict. The delay after the Rwandan genocide worked in its favour. No one, including the Burundian Hutus or Tutsis wanted death on that scale.

So what now for Rwanda? With the fragmented leadership of Interhamwe, the fact the even amongst the ethnic Hutus there was never anything approaching unity, Rwanda now has almost a tribal feel. The RDF is still trying to organize things in the power vacuum left by the Interhamwe and is still trying to reach out to the RPF so far with no success.

The RPF still lurks across the borders in both Congo and Uganda but has so far no engaged in direct military action, instead engaging with Tanzania about setting up a Tutsi homeland in the provinces of Gikongoro, Butare and parts of Kigali Rural and Kibungo. Tanzania, of course, want the reformation of a more peaceful nation of Rwanda with only a semi-autnomous Tutsi region. A peaceful Hutu and Tutsi Rwanda means that Tanzania could expel the considerable number of Tutsis still living in camps and shantytowns there.

One thing is certain. This area of Africa is now quiet with the desire for more genocide and violence appearing to be completely burned out. Let's hope that the RDF, RPF, Tanzania and most importantly those Tutsis that still remain both within and without the borders can sit down to a pitcher of urwagwa and start to heal the blood and tear stained body of Rwanda.

 

[Axeman]

US involvement was on shaky ground after the failed UN mission in Somalia. Pitched battles between the UNAMIR forces (comprising mainly of Belgium, Bangladeshi and Canadian forces) in Kigali between the Interhamwe, elements of the Rwandan military and UNAMIR which resulted in around 350 UN casualties led to a withdrawal by all. Dallaire himself, in his autobigraphy "Shake Hands with the Devil" describes at one point the Interhamwe militia hacking to death a number of UN medical staff because the had treated Belgium and Tutsi wounded. With no mandate for force Dallaire states in his book "Our forces' hands were tied, the Belgium soldiers couldn't be seen to be supporting the RPF or risk a complete escalation and the UN in New York had no backbone. This mission was doomed before I left Toronto because it had no real support."

How can you blame the world for not wanting to be involved in the middle of such a slaughter?

Don't get me wrong the 1,200,000 total dead in Rwanda (or about 30% of its total population) and the near anhilation of Tutsis in almost all of Rwanda is a terrible thing. If it weren't for the intervention of Tanzania in the southern provinces of Rwanda, I would suspect that the only ethnic Tutsi population living would be that outside of Rwandas national borders.

Even with Interhamwe having been overthrown they are by no means finished as a political entity though the nation's appetite for violence has burned out. At this point, even more conciliatory gestures from the RDF (Rwandan Democratic Front - The Centre-Left Party created in 2002 that eventually led to the Interhamwe demise) to Tutsis that have fled abroad or that are living in the southern hill provinces would fall on deaf ears.

As far as the French involvement, I'm not sure what the previous poster was getting at? The only French incident that involved the direct death of civilians was the Kibeho incident where an off target bomb, actually designed to deter (in the strictest sense) the Interhamwe that were approaching the camp, struck inside the camp itself. Whilst tragic and a huge mistake of the pilot, this resulted in around 3,500 deaths and not the 900,000 (estimates) that are attributed directly to the Interhamwe. After this incident, and with growing international scrutiny on French links to some of the more notorious Hutus leaders France distanced itself. France actually helped sponsor the Sabena led initiative (surely you know about the medicine for Tutsis Kigali deal made with Interhamwe?) supplying fuel, planes and most importantly money for the medicine used as a bargaining tool.

The violence in Burundi was short lived thanks to calmer heads that helm of government there and the direct involvement of South Africa and then President Bill Clinton as a negotiator. I'm not certain where you arrived at the 91% figure for deaths of ethnic Tutsis but by research (see wikipedia) around 55,000 deaths on both sides resulted from this conflict. The delay after the Rwandan genocide worked in its favour. No one, including the Burundian Hutus or Tutsis wanted death on that scale.

So what now for Rwanda? With the fragmented leadership of Interhamwe, the fact the even amongst the ethnic Hutus there was never anything approaching unity, Rwanda now has almost a tribal feel. The RDF is still trying to organize things in the power vacuum left by the Interhamwe and is still trying to reach out to the RPF so far with no success.

The RPF still lurks across the borders in both Congo and Uganda but has so far no engaged in direct military action, instead engaging with Tanzania about setting up a Tutsi homeland in the provinces of Gikongoro, Butare and parts of Kigali Rural and Kibungo. Tanzania, of course, want the reformation of a more peaceful nation of Rwanda with only a semi-autnomous Tutsi region. A peaceful Hutu and Tutsi Rwanda means that Tanzania could expel the considerable number of Tutsis still living in camps and shantytowns there.

One thing is certain. This area of Africa is now quiet with the desire for more genocide and violence appearing to be completely burned out. Let's hope that the RDF, RPF, Tanzania and most importantly those Tutsis that still remain both within and without the borders can sit down to a pitcher of urwagwa and start to heal the blood and tear stained body of Rwanda.

OOC : I like your post, but what I had in mind was ethnically divided Burundi also suffered from severe genocide, so other then that everything remains*

BIC :

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this horrible conflict I quoted some stuff off of Wikipedia in order to familiarize yourself with it.

1987-The RPF is founded from disgruntled Tutsis living in refugee camps in Uganda by Tutsi dissidents in the Ugandan Military and has support of the Tutsi refugees and are well trained in the Ugandan Military.

1989- The RPF cross into northern Rwanda sparking off the civil war, their demands include the end to identity cards and ethnic segregation.

1990- Both Zaire and France send elements to help stop the RPF, the French begin to extensively train and arm the FAR *Hutu government army* to stop them.

1991- The RPF continue to fight on despite battering defeats, Zaire invests the entire Elite Presidential Division to training the FAR to keep ethnic violence out of Zaire. The result is a more powerful Hutu Government army then before.

1993- Peace accords supposedly end the civil war as mediated by Tanzania, the accords fail in the first round. RTLN radio station "Hutu Power" begins broadcasting anti-Tutsi propaganda

1994- On the way back from the 2nd round of accords the presidential jet carrying both the President of Rwanda and Burundi. This event begins the rise of the Interahamwe government and genocide.

Mid to Late 1994- The Interahamwe with elements of the Hutu Army begin conducting a genocide against the Tutsi ethnicity. The Hutu army finds itself split as rouge elements attempt to stop the genocide and end up fleeing into Burundi or Tanzania. This infighting allows the RPF to advance to within 30 miles of Kigali, but the advance fails when moderate elements of the FAR flee into Burundi giving the Interahamwe and the rest of the FAR a free hand.

1995- The RPF and moderate elements of FAR unite and form the FLR *Front for the Liberation of Rwanda* and launch a new offensive to stop the genocide in full swing. The FAR still remains officaly in control of the country, but begin to arm the Interahamwe extensively. The Interahamwe and FAR stop the advance of the third advance of rebels in the Rwandan Civil War. The Impuzamugambi who had worked closely with the Interahamwe are completely integrated togather.

1996- The Interahamwe and FAR begin reprisals against "moderate Hutus" and the Twa of the country. The Interahamwe later in the year also completely manage to phase out the FAR and the Interahamwe become the sole authority of the Rwandan government.

1997- With an estimated 95 % of Hutus and 25% overall dead in Rwanda and ethnic tension still mounting in Burundi, the Interahamwe invade Burundi. The UN and Tanzania both are delayed with inaction as they use the excuse that they are perusing rebels in a domestic civil war.

1998- Folowing a military coup in Bujumbura and the Interahamwe and FTLN exasperating racial tensions the FLR are ejected from Burundi and flee into Tanzania or Zaire. Genocides begin in Burundi.
*notice how it is still Zaire and not congo, lets use that ok!*

1999- The Interahamwe begin to regularly cross Ugandan borders and attack Tutsi refugee camps. The LRA of Uganda makes a tacit agreement with the Interahamwe to stay out of each others way. Genocides in Burundi continue en masse while in Rwanda the Interahamwe begin a brutal campaign of finding the few Tutsis inside the country.

2000- Following a US air strike on targets in Bujumbura and Kigali both Zaire and Uganda, both resentful over the refugee crisis emerging in their borders, openly support the FLR who make a new dash for Kigali, the effort fails.

2001- Genocide continues in both Rwanda and Burundi. Burundi finds itself in a chaotic situation as not only the Interahamwe are fighting the FLR inside the country, but the military is fighting with itself over how to treat the Tutsi and the Tutsi are mounting an armed resistance in the south of the country. The Interahamwe begin to move into Burundi en masse and spread the genocide there.

2002- With arrival of the Interahamwe and the 2nd expelling of FLR and moderate Burundian troops from the country the rate of genocide against Tutsis climbs to the same levels it was in 1994. The UN proposes an intervention force on the grounds of destruction of national sovereignty, not genocide. The measure fails in the UN.

2003- the FLR merges with moderate elements of the Burundian military and forms the UFCLRB *union for complete liberation of Rwanda and Burundi* . 2003 witnesses a 4th attempt by Tanzania to end the genocide, however with international attention turned towards Iraq little gets done.

2004- The UFCLRB begins to receive volunteers and training from Tanzania. The year is marked with several more controversial border crossing actions into Rwanda and Burundi by Tanzania and into Uganda by the Interahamwe

2005- The Interahamwe in Burundi suffer a series of defeats as the former, primarily Tutsi military, begins to make a new drive on Bujumbura with help of most of the various elements of the UFCLRB who had decided in shifting the war to the south.

2006- the UFCLRB enter Bujumbura in triumph and proclaim a new republic, weary of mistakes made in the past by openly promoting Tutsi aristocratic behaviors the government keeps quiet. The war in Rwanda enters a new phase as Rwanda declares war against the "unjust Tutsi dominated regime of Burundi". The war will be characterized by an indecisive sea-saw action between Burundi and the UFCLR *renamed to drop Burundi* against Rwanda.

2007- The UFCLR begins to gather support from Tanzania and continues to engage the Interahamwe in geurilla raids. The UFCLR gain support of Tutsi refugees and those who had not deserted the Ugandan Army, plus who who had fled to Congo, and the Tanzanian Army for a last desperate push to save Rwanda.

2008- The grand offensive planed on 3 sides fails spectacularly. UFCLR morale dwindles to nothing as it is estimated that 98% of all Tutsis in Rwanda are already dead and the other 2% in the UFCLR. In July the UFCLR flees into Tanzania and Uganda again, however this time the Interahamwe, incorrectly sensing complete victory against them AND Burundi chase them into Tanzania, Tanzania says no more.

2009- Tanzanian forces drive the Interahamwe out of Tanzania and just like with Uganda in 1979 are greeted as liberators and Tanzania once again receives a boost in prestige. This boost in prestige does not change the massive ammounts of civillian casualties.

2010- After the fall of the Interahamwe in Rwanda and Burundi they flee into Eastern Zaire, were fighting still continues to this day.

 

[Minchandre]

As far as the French involvement, I'm not sure what the previous poster was getting at? The only French incident that involved the direct death of civilians was the Kibeho incident where an off target bomb, actually designed to deter (in the strictest sense) the Interhamwe that were approaching the camp, struck inside the camp itself. Whilst tragic and a huge mistake of the pilot, this resulted in around 3,500 deaths and not the 900,000 (estimates) that are attributed directly to the Interhamwe. After this incident, and with growing international scrutiny on French links to some of the more notorious Hutus leaders France distanced itself. France actually helped sponsor the Sabena led initiative (surely you know about the medicine for Tutsis Kigali deal made with Interhamwe?) supplying fuel, planes and most importantly money for the medicine used as a bargaining tool.

Hey, man, I'm sure you're right; I was just repeating something I'd heard about the French involvement. It wouldn't surprise me at all to hear a bunch of dirty rumors being spread about the French; they made a lot of enemies through their involvement in the war.

 

[Blitzhund]

Hey, man, I'm sure you're right; I was just repeating something I'd heard about the French involvement. It would surprise me at all to hear a bunch of dirty rumors being spread about the French; they made a lot of enemies through their involvement in the war.

I'm sure you're right - who knows what the French special forces got up to in the darkest jungles? There were indeed stories of atrocities, but either they were much exaggerated or no one but the French soldiers lived to tell.

 

[Blitzhund]

1997- With an estimated 95 % of Hutus and 25% overall dead in Rwanda and ethnic tension still mounting in Burundi, the Interahamwe invade Burundi. The UN and Tanzania both are delayed with inaction as they use the excuse that they are perusing rebels in a domestic civil war.

The only issue I've got is that the Interhamwe was never more organized than the seperate rabbles it was in. Sure, there were pockets that were temporarily 'led' but that cohesion dissolved when the charismatic leadership left. It is good that they were not more organized than they were - but remember, the Interhamwe was ultimately civilians, like you and I, that got caught up in mass madness.

Within the Rwandan military there were a number of high placed Hutus that only paid lip service to the Interhamwe. When they were required to take action, they either balked, pretended or outright refused.

This is also a very poor nation, where would the guns and materiale for a continual conflict come from? The majority of the weapons merchants in the southern half of Africa are from South Africa. They had no interest in the conflict and the Rwandans didn't have a lot of money.

One other thing is to note that beyond the city of Kigali most Rwandans, both Hutu and Tutsi, were involved in agriculture. In a sustained conflict for a long period of time - who would tend the fields?

If you're interested in this subject, I would suggest a number of books:

"Me Against My Brother, At War in Somalia, Rwanda and Sudan" by Scott Peterson

"Shake Hands with the Devil" by Romeo Dallaire who was in charge of UNAMIR on the ground in Rwanda

"We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families" by Philip Gourevitch

and finally: "An Ordinary Man: The True Story Behind The Hotel Rwanda" by Paul Rusesabagina

I've also written a couple of papers on the subject so if you're interested PM me and I'll see if I can find them and send them on.

 

[Axeman]

OOC:

I don't think it would be too much of a stretch to throw in a few lines about weapons being supplied to Burundi by Tanzania, and further staining the French by having them support the Hutu Army which in turn funnels everything to the Interahamwe.

Plus when I meant the Interahamwe invaded Tanzania, that was poor wording, would have been better to say Interahamwe cross the border and start killing Tutsis before full blown war begins later.

 

[Axeman]

Shameless bump.

 

[Axeman]

So should I simply give up on this thread?