civil war Flashcards
umuganda
weekly communal labour
pre-military coup
major political issue during Kayibanda’s rule was division of north and south of Rwanda
Kayibanda= south
Juvénal Habyarimana (head of Rwandan army)= north
army intensified persecution of Tutsi through the formation of Hutu vigilante committees that ensured the enforcement of required ethnic quotes requested by Habyarimana
National Revolutionary Movement for Development (MRND)
1975
political party formed by Habyarimana
goal- “promote peace, unity, and national development.”
reality- attempted to establish dictatorship and banned Parmehutu party
military coup
5th July 1973
Habyarimana overthrew Kayibanda
supposedly “bloodless coup” but 56 people were killed by security services between 1974-1977 (mainly former political leaders)
suspended constitution, dissolved the National Assembly (parliament), and imposed ban on all political activity
1978 election
Habyarimana was sole candidate
2 MRND candidates for each seat
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
paramilitary organisation of Tutsis rebels (unofficial organisation)
Rwandan refugees in Uganda- background of RPF
reluctantly accepted 200,000 refugees
refugees invaded Rwanda in 1961 and 1962, causing political instability in western Uganda
prompted government to warn against using Uganda as a base to attack Rwanda from, “if [our] hospitality is abused, we shall have no alternative but to withdraw protection”- PM Milton Obote
National Resistance Army (NRA)- background of RPF
Fred Rwigyema and Paul Kagame (Tutsis) joined Yoweri Museveni’s (Ugandan) rebel army to defeat Idi Amin in 1979
Museveni and Kagame formed new rebel army, NRA
1986- overthrew Obote’s government and formed new government
Museveni appointed Kagame and Rwigyema as senior officers in new Ugandan army
start of Civil War
1st October, 1990
5000 RPF troops invaded Rwanda
goal- allow refugees to return home
inspired by experience of Ugandan Bush War
French assistance
Habyarimana requested assistance after RPF invaded
600 French soldiers arrived the following day
sent shipments of artillery, mortars, other equipment, and financial aid
claim to counter “agression launched from an English-speaking country.”
Zaire assistance
sent several hundred troops of Special Presidential Division to fight alongside Rwandan government troops
President Mobutu Sese Seko- close ally of Habyarimana
Habyarimana expelled them back to Zaire within a week due to “poor discipline” (raped Rwandan civilians, looted homes)
civil war- Paul Kagame’s return
reason- Fred Rwigyema dies in first few days of battle; due to major tactical advantage, RAF had regained all land taken by the RPF in the early days of the way and pushed back to Ugandan border
Paul Kagame returned from USA to lead RPF
began a guerrilla war
by late 1991, RPF controlled 5% of Rwanda
introduction of multi-party politics
April 1992
due to civil war and pressure from international community, Habyarimana announced introduction of multi-party politics in Rwanda
cabinet was still dominated by Habyarimana party
opposition members met with RPF to negotiate ceasefire
July 1992- RPF agreed to stop fighting and began peace negotiations
Arusha Accords
negotiations lasted from 12th July, 1992-24th July, 1993
signed in August 1993
after 3 years, Habyarimana government and RPF signed a “final” ceasefire agreement
included provisions:
> power sharing between Hutu and Tutsi
> formation of single National Army
> repatriation of Tutsi refugees
November 1992- Habyarimana referred to Arusha Accords as “pieces of paper”
Gérard Prunier records this as when the idea of a genocidal “final solution” to kill every Tutsi in Rwanda was first proposed
United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR)
5th October, 1993- UN Security Council commissioned Resolution 872 (1993) which established UNAMIR
led by Roméo Dallaire
objective- assistance in supervision of implementation of Arusha Accords
2548 military personnel
