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The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis by the Hutu majority, exacerbated by historical ethnic tensions and political unrest, particularly following the assassination of President Habyarimana. The UN's initial response was criticized for its inadequacy, leading to the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda post-genocide to ensure accountability. In contrast, the UNAMSIL mission in Sierra Leone successfully disarmed ex-fighters, supported democratic elections, and established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, serving as a model for effective international intervention in post-conflict recovery.

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16 views3 pages

Case Studies

The Rwandan Genocide in 1994 resulted in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis by the Hutu majority, exacerbated by historical ethnic tensions and political unrest, particularly following the assassination of President Habyarimana. The UN's initial response was criticized for its inadequacy, leading to the establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda post-genocide to ensure accountability. In contrast, the UNAMSIL mission in Sierra Leone successfully disarmed ex-fighters, supported democratic elections, and established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, serving as a model for effective international intervention in post-conflict recovery.

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Mildred kamene
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CASE STUDIES

The Rwandan Genocide


The Rwandan Genocide, which occurred in 1994, was a brutal and tragic event that left an
indelible scar on the history of Rwanda and the international community. The genocide was
characterized by the mass slaughter of Tutsi ethnic minority group by the Hutu majority,
resulting in the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people in just 100 days. The roots of the genocide
can be traced back to historical ethnic tensions and colonial legacies, but it was exacerbated by
the political climate in Rwanda at the time. The assassination of the Rwandan President, Juvénal
Habyarimana, on April 6, 1994, served as a catalyst, leading to the organized and systematic
killings.1
The UN had a peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, known as the United Nations Assistance
Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), established in 1993 to oversee the Arusha Accords, which
aimed to bring peace to the civil war between the Hutu-led government and the Rwandan
Patriotic Front (RPF) composed mainly of Tutsis.
Despite early warnings from UN officials and humanitarian organizations about escalating
violence, the UN Security Council failed to act decisively. The mission was under-resourced and
lacked a clear mandate to intervene effectively.2
On April 21, as the crisis deepened, the UN security council voted to reduce UNAMIR’s
presence in the country from 2,500 troops to 270. That seemingly incomprehensible troop
reduction at a time when assistance was sorely needed limited the missions abiity to respond to
the crisis . This decision has been heavily criticized as a failure to uphold the responsibility to
protect civilians This decision has been heavily criticized as a failure to uphold the responsibility
to protect civilians. On May 17, however, the UN reversed its decision and voted to establish a
force of 5,500, composed of soldiers mainly from African countries, but those additional troops
could not be immediately deployed. On June 22 the UN backed the deployment of a French-led
military force, known as Operation Turquoise, into Rwanda to establish a safe zone; the
operation was opposed by the RPF, which claimed that France had always supported the
government and policies of President Habyarimana.
1
“The Genocide | United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.” Accessed November 2, 2024.
https://unictr.irmct.org/en/genocide.
2
“Rwanda Genocide of 1994 | Summary, History, Date, Background, Deaths, & Facts | Britannica.” Accessed
November 2, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994.
Following the genocide, the RPF took control of the country, leading to a long process of
rebuilding and reconciliation. The Rwandan Genocide is a stark illustration of the United
Nations' limitations and failures, highlighting the complexities of international intervention in
humanitarian crises.
In the aftermath of the Genocide and considering reports on "violations of international
humanitarian law in Rwanda", the Security Council affirmed its determination "to put an end to
such crimes and to take effective measures to bring to justice the persons (...) responsible for
them" The UN later established the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to
prosecute those responsible for the genocide, marking a significant step towards accountability.
The Rwandan Genocide is a profound example of the UN's impact, illustrating both its failures
and the subsequent reforms that arose from those failures. It serves as a critical reminder of the
importance of timely intervention, the need for adequate resources and mandates, and the
necessity of international cooperation in preventing future atrocities. The legacy of Rwanda
continues to influence discussions on humanitarian intervention and the UN's role in global
governance, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of the lessons learned from this tragic event. 3
PEACE KEEPING IN SIERRA LEONE
The conflict in Sierra Leone dates from March 1991 when fighters of the Revolutionary United
Front (RUF) launched a war from the east of the country near the border with Liberia to
overthrow the government. With the support of the Military Observer Group (ECOMOG) of the
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Sierra Leone's army tried at first to
defend the government but, the following year, the army itself overthrew the government.
On June 1999, the Security Council established the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra
Leone (UNAMSIL) UNAMSIL's role was to protect a tenuous peace agreed at Lomé in mid-
1999.By early 2002, UNAMSIL had disarmed and demobilized more than 75,000 ex-fighters,
including child soldiers. The Government declared the war officially ended. With the political
situation stable, the Mission helped organize Sierra Leone’s first-ever free and fair presidential
and parliamentary elections by providing logistics and public information support.4

3
“Rwanda Genocide of 1994 - Ethnic Conflict, Hutu-Tutsi, Massacres | Britannica.” Accessed November 2, 2024.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994/Genocide.
4
“UNAMSIL: United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone - Background.” Accessed November 2, 2024.
https://peacekeeping.un.org/mission/past/unamsil/background.html.
UNAMSIL monitored and trained Sierra Leoneans in human rights and was instrumental in
setting up the Special Court for Sierra Leone to try those most responsible for war crimes. The
Mission also assisted the Government in setting up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
tasked with healing the wounds of war by bringing together perpetrators and victims of
atrocities.
UNAMSIL completed most of the tasks assigned it by the Security Council: It assisted the
voluntary return of more than half a million refugees and internally displaced persons. It helped
the Government restore its authority and social services in areas previously controlled by rebels,
trained thousands of police personnel, and constructed or reconstructed dozens of police stations
UNAMSIL has emerged as an example of a successful United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Overall,the success of peacekeeping in Sierra Leone has had profound implications for the UN,
enhancing its credibility, refining its operational strategies, and promoting a more integrated
approach to peacekeeping and peacebuilding. This mission not only contributed to stability in
Sierra Leone but also influenced the UN’s policies and practices in future conflicts,
demonstrating the vital role that effective international intervention can play in post-conflict
recovery and development. The lessons learned continue to resonate in current discussions about
the effectiveness and challenges of UN peacekeeping worldwide.5

5
“Sierra Leone - A Peacekeeping Success: Lessons Learned from UNAMSIL - Sierra Leone | ReliefWeb.” Accessed
November 2, 2024. https://reliefweb.int/report/sierra-leone/sierra-leone-peacekeeping-success-lessons-learned-
unamsil.

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