Remembering Rwanda
Photo Credit: Maxime Niyomwungeri (Unsplash)
As grim footage from Bucha, Ukraine was revealed by U.S. news outlets, the world was reminded that this week was also the start of the horrific genocide in Rwanda 28 years ago. On April 7, 1994, Hutu extremists in Rwanda started a campaign of terror, killing Tutsis (an ethnic minority) and their political opponents. Tensions had been building for months, but the world largely ignored the obvious signs of impending disaster. What lessons can we apply now to prevent future atrocities?
The decade of Gacaca.
For 100 days of shattered peace, as governments around the world debated the nuanced differences between "civil conflict," "ethnic cleansing," and "genocide" in Rwanda, vicious mobs armed with guns and machetes slaughtered thousands of people, decimating families and destroying communities. While mourning the murders of 800,000 family members and neighbors, Rwandans tried to heal the deep divides in their country while seeking justice for victims of the genocide. They set up Gacaca, which are community-led courts that seek truth and reconciliation. Some global human rights advocates felt Gacaca did not uphold international legal standards, but for ten years Rwandans convened small courts in communities across the country to try cases. They concluded their cases in 2012 and the BBC reported that "about 65% of the close to two million people tried" were found guilty of crimes.
1994 was the beginning.
During the summer of 1994, Tutsi rebel forces drove Hutu extremists over the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The world cheered, ecstatic that the violence had finally come to an end. But, Hutu militias regrouped in the DRC, recruited new members, and transformed into the Forces Démocratiques de Libération du Rwanda (FDLR). Though they have denied any involvement, the FDLR has been reportedly connected to numerous recent attacks, including the 2021 murder of the Italian ambassador and the 2020 murders of 13 Virunga National Park Rangers.
When Hollywood meets reality.
Many of us learned about the Rwandan genocide through the Oscar-nominated movie "Hotel Rwanda," in which Paul Rusesabagina was portrayed by Don Cheadle. Rusesabagina was a hotel manager who sheltered Tutsi and Hutu refugees during the genocide, though there has been controversy surrounding his version of events. Last year, he was kidnapped and imprisoned in Rwanda on terrorism charges. In September 2021, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He has maintained his innocence, but the sentence was upheld this week. During a meeting this month, USAID Administrator Samantha Power told Vincent Biruta, Rwanda's Minister of Foreign Affairs, that there is "strong concern over the conviction of U.S. lawful permanent resident Paul Rusesabagina and the negative impact of Rusesabagina’s case on Rwanda’s relationship with the United States."
Empower kids in Rwanda. Children of Rwanda is a registered Scottish non-profit with a fundraising chapter at the University of St. Andrews. While they were founded in the United Kingdom and are financially supported by students in Scotland, their critical work for children is driven by Rwandans, for Rwandans. In the western portion of the country, Children of Rwanda works with local schools to ensure that children can afford to attend primary and secondary school. You can help them cover the costs of healthcare, meals, uniforms, materials, and exam fees by donating here. You can also volunteer with Children of Rwanda by hosting a private fundraiser or working with your university to start a student-led chapter.
April's Bold and Bookish pick is Do Not Disturb by Michela Wrong. This book is “a powerful investigation into a grisly political murder and the authoritarian regime behind it." Wrong "upends the narrative that Rwanda sold the world after one of the deadliest genocides of the twentieth century." Like all of Wrong's books, Do Not Disturb has been praised by masters of suspense in fiction, like John Le Carré. Her writing is always vivid and engaging. Even if you do not typically enjoy reading non-fiction, you will savor every moment of her strong narrative voice and compelling storytelling!
As always, you can find this and other Bold and Bookish selections in our Bookshop. As an affiliate, we received a small commission on books you purchase through the site.