MSA PRESENTATION 2016​

LARA ZIENER & JOHARA MEYER

Subject: History/Politics

Tutor: Mrs. Berner

Silent witnesses or effective peacekeepers ?

The UN in Rwanda -

Table of Contents
Genocide:

the deliberate and systematic extermination committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.

Definitions - Genocide

Capital: Kigali

President: Paul Kagame

Neighboring countries:

Uganda, Burundi, Rep. Of Congo, Tanzania 

Definitions - Rwanda

Definitions – ethnic groups

Tutsi – the cattle farmers (14%)​

 

Hutu – the farmers (85%)​

​

Twa – the hunters (1%)​

  • established in 1945​

  • successor of the League of Nation​

Aim: maintain international peace and security

Definitions - United Nations​​

Definitions - Peacekeepers

 "Peacekeepers help countries torn by conflict to create the conditions for lasting peace."

- United Nations

Definitions - Peacekeepers

PRINCIPLES

3. Non-use of force except
   in self-defence and
   defence of the mandate​
1. Consent of the parties​
2. Impartiality​

Germany colonizes Rwanda

Germany loses WWI; Belgium takes over in Rwanda

Belgium introduces 'identity card'

Hutu rebellion against Tutsi and Belgians

UN defines the term genocide and declares it a crime under international law​

Rwanda gains independence from Belgium

Timeline – Colonization/ Uprising

1890

1919

1930

1959

1962

1948

Violent Tutsi uprisings

Timeline – Genocide

The Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi are killed in a plane crash 

⇒ start of Genocide 

 

UNOMUR / UNAMIR est.

​Arusha Peace Agreement 

The media holds the RPF responsible and calls for the elimination of  Tutsi’s

RPF takes military control ⇒ end of killing 

UN members withdraw troops

100 days of killings

1990

 

1993

April 6th

1994

April 21st

1994

April 7th

1994

July 4th

1994

Jan.

1994

Human Rights Watch

⇒ Hutu Militias in Rwanda are arming themselves

Timeline – Aftermath

UN Missions

Mandate: implement the Arusha Peace Agreement signed by the Rwandees parties 1993

  • France and the U.S. vetoed the mandate
  • Roméo Dallaire - Commander-in-Chief 
  • UNOMUR (June 1993 - Sept. 1994)​ 

  • UNAMIR (Oct.1993 - 8th March 1996)​​

  • 1st Phase: installation of a BBTG ​

  • 2nd Phase: disengage and demobilize rebel forces ​

  • 3rd Phase: actual intergration of government and rebel forces​

  • 4th Phase: providing security in the run-up elections

UNAMIR Mandate 

UN Mission - Mandate

UN Mission - Effectiveness

3 reasons why this mission was ineffective:

  • insufficient and delayed response

  • lack of leadership 

  • insufficient mandate

around 1 million killed /close to 2 million displaced

20% 

% population killed in during genocide

Lessons learned - by the international community

  • Take initiative - leadership

  • A clear and sufficient mandate is essential 

  • Acting promptly

Lessons learned - impact on further peacekeeping missions

 

Five-point action plan

for preventing genocides​

  1. ​Prevent armed conflict, which usually provides the context for genocide​

  2. Protect civilians in armed conflict, including through UN peacekeepers​

  3. End impunity through judicial action in national and international courts​

  4. Take swift and decisive action, including military action

  5. Gather information and set up an early-warning system​​

Silent witnesses or effective peacekeepers?

The UN in Rwanda -

Conclusion

Conclusion

 SILENT WITNESSES 

Sources

Primary Sources: 

  • The Changing Practice of Peacekeeping

​ (Sven Bernhard; Varwick, Johannes, The United Nations, Au Introduction, Polgrate Macmillan 2005, pp. 89-98) 

  • Kollaps – Warum Gesellschaften überleben oder untergehen

​( Jared Diamond; Erschienen bei FISCHER Taschenbuch, Frankfurt am Main, Oktober 2011; pp.387-408) 

  • UNAMIR – mission to Rwanda

( R. A. Dailllare, B. Poulin; Springs 1995 / JFQ ) 

 

Seconday Sources: 

Sources