Rusmisel and Sellers 1

Josh Rusmisel and Timothy Sellers

Mrs. Agar
English II Honors
22 March 2016
The Shadow of Death
Many people learn about the Holocaust during WW2, but no one ever learns about the second
mass murder of millions. This event was called the Rwandan Genocide. Two African tribes
committed horrible tragedies against each other. While this was going on, the international world
simply watched and waited. While Rwanda was in her greatest time of need, she was let down
by the international community and left to suffer through a brutal genocide with no help from the
outside world.
This dark time in Rwandan history had been in the making for many years. Unfair treatment by
European powers had led to hate between the two Hutu and Tutsi tribes that would grow bigger
and bigger every year. The main European power involved was Belgium and the tensions that
they created were because of how they favored certain individuals. Divisions that identified
specific individuals and groups based on physical characteristics and livelihood were
exacerbated during colonization by Belgium. The best jobs, education, and religious leadership
were given only to Tutsis, a minority group in Congo.(Browne) This shows how the minority
Tutsis were given special privileges which wasnt fair to the rest of the population of Rwanda.
However, this tension can not be blamed on Belgium alone.Many factors other than traditional
hatreds, however, influenced the massacre, including overpopulation, a shortage of jobs and
farmland, the myth of Tutsi racial superiority, the introduction of multi-party politics, and the
quest for personal power. (Browne) Even though the international community blamed Belgium
for the hostility causing the genocide, most of the friction between tribes was also due to many

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other things outside of European control. Due to this division between the tribes, the stage was
set for a showdown that would change the course of African history.
The genocide that struck Rwanda was one of the, if not the, most catastrophic events in their
history. In the weeks after April 6, 1994, 800,000 men, women, and children perished in the
Rwandan genocide, perhaps as many as three quarters of the Tutsi population. At the same
time, thousands of Hutu were murdered because they opposed the killing campaign and the
forces directing it (United Human Rights Council). The killing caused people to live in constant
fear that they could be killed or captured by the army or RUF and forced into service. Many
people decided to escape with their families into other countries. This mass movement
decreased the population of Rwanda and made the death toll even more impactful. To
understand the sheer devastation of this event, one must consider how quickly it came and
went. Finally, in July, roughly one hundred days after the genocide began, RUF forces captured
the countrys capital, Kigali, and violence began to taper off. In that time, between 800,000 and
1 million Rwandans, mostly Tutsi, had been murdered(Powell). This incident which is already
horrible was made even worse because of the speed at which it occurred with the entire event
only lasting around 100 days. This was very impactful to the country of Rwanda, but what is
even more shocking is how the international community simply stood aside and watched as this
event unfolded.
The Rwandan genocide saw many tragedies, through the start to the end, yet this entire event
could have been prevented if the international community had stepped in instead of standing by
and watching. When foreign peacekeepers suffered a terrible attack, the international
community pulled out. After ten Belgian members of the UNAMIR peacekeeping mission were
tortured and mutilated before being killed by the Interahamwe, the United Nations cut its
presence from 2,500 to 250(Powell). This is one of the most horrifying parts of this event,
because the United Nations was created to prevent issues such as this. Rwanda needed more

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support or at least a mediator and there was no response from the international community.
Many people wondered why the UN didnt get involved. The main reasoning is they were
influenced by other similar events from the past. Having recently suffered a public relations
disaster in Somalia, where eighteen US soldiers were killed, US president Bill Clintons
administration attempted to downplay the genocide as a local conflict that did not require
American intervention(Powell). This really demonstrates the selfishness of the world and how
they were so consumed with themselves that they decided not to risk their resources for the
greater good. America isnt the sole group to blame considering the multiple countries
surrounding, and involved in the genocide. Yet either way the world didnt do what it was
supposed to and allowed this tragic event to happen. There were many things that came up that
were not handled properly, and one main issue the world must take away from this is what the
response needs to be next time something like this happens.
All throughout American history, Americans have stepped in to either solve or end
inhuman behavior. However when the genocide occurred, America and many other countries
looked the other way. The leader of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda ,
UNAMIR, Romo Dallaire, pleaded for assistance to prevent the genocide before it began, but
his request was turned down(Powell). If his request wasnt turned down then this event could
have had a different history. If his request was answered through force than the civilian death
toll could have been smaller. If the answer was found in peacekeeping agents, then a diplomatic
solution could have been found. Yet their is no real way to find a solution to prevent peace, the
only thing that is known for certain is the world could have and should have gotten involved
sooner. While still not publicly calling the crisis genocide, the US government finally accepted
on May 11th, nearly five weeks after the violence began, that something had to be
done(Alexander 4). Although five weeks doesnt seem to be very long, but in reality around
280,000 people had already been murdered. This tragedy should have been apparent sooner

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yet for some reason the world didnt notice or simply didnt care. The actions that were
eventually taken did help prosecute leaders and end the genocide, yet if only it had happened
sooner many lives could have been saved.
When looking at the Rwandan Genocide, one take away is how horrible it was, but
ultimately the main takeaway is how the world could have helped. This event can help lead
global leaders in making the right choices and doing the humane thing even when it might seem
dangerous or risky. By doing this, something like the Rwandan Genocide, will never happen
again and nobody will ever have to worry about being left out to dry by the world ever again.

Works Cited

Browne, Dallas L. "Rwanda and Burundi: Culture, History, Power, and Genocide." History
Behind the Headlines: The Origins of Conflicts Worldwide. Ed. Sonia G. Benson, Nancy
Matuszak, and Meghan Appel O'Meara. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale, 2001. 225-237. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
Cureden, Alexander. Rwandan Genocide. 2010. Web. 9 Mar. 2016.
Powell, Jessie Bishop. "Rwandan Genocide." Salem Press Encyclopedia (2015): Topic
Overviews 6-12. Web. 8 Mar. 2016.
"Genocide in Rwanda." United Human Rights Council. Web. 7 Mar. 2016.

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Rwandan Genocide
Outline
Thesis: In Rwanda's greatest time of need, she was let down by the international community
and left to suffer through a brutal genocide with no help from the outside world.
Intro
Hook
Thesis
II. How/Why/What
What created tensions
III. Why/What
How it happened
What happened
III. international response
What really was the response
How this impacted event
IV. appropriate international response
What should have been done
How this would have impacted event
V. Conclusion
Restate
Summarize