3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

RwandanCivilWar
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

TheRwandanCivilWarwasaconflictwithinthe
CentralAfricannationofRwanda,betweenthe
governmentofPresidentJuvnalHabyarimanaandthe
rebelRwandanPatrioticFront(RPF).Theconflict
beganon1October1990whentheRPFinvadedand
ostensiblyendedon4August1993withthesigningof
theArushaAccordstocreateapowersharing
government.[2]
However,theassassinationofHabyarimanainApril
1994provedtobethecatalystfortheRwandan
Genocide,thecommonlyquoteddeathtollforwhichis
800,000.Thecloselyinterrelatedcausesofthewarand
genocideledsomeobserverstoassumethatthereports
ofmasskillingswereinfactsomenewflaringofthe
war,ratherthanadifferentphase.TheRPFrestartedits
offensive,eventuallytakingcontrolofthecountry.The
Hutugovernmentinexilethenproceededtouserefugee
campsinneighboringcountriestodestabilizethenew
RPFgovernment.TheRPFanditsproxyrebelforces
prosecutedtheFirstCongoWar(19961997),whichled
inturntotheSecondCongoWar(19982003),allof
whichinvolvedaHutuforcewiththeobjectiveof
regainingcontrolofRwanda.Thuswhilethecivilwar
officiallylasteduntil1993,someliteraturehasthewar
endingwiththeRPFcaptureofKigaliin1994orwith
thedisbandingoftherefugeecampsin1996,while
someconsiderthepresenceofsmallrebelgroupsalong
theRwandanbordertomeanthatthecivilwaris
ongoing.

RwandanCivilWar

MapofRwandawithtownsandroads

Date

1October19904August1993
(2years,10monthsand3days)
(firstphase,uptoArushaAccords)

7April18July1994
(3months,1weekand4days)
(secondphase,uptoRPFvictory)

Location
Result

Rwanda
Militaryandpoliticalvictoryofthe
RwandanPatrioticFront:
StartofRwandanGenocide
StartofGreatLakesrefugee
crisis

Contents
1Background
1.1PreindependenceRwandaandorigins

Belligerents
Rebels:

Government:

ofHutu,TutsiandTwa

Rwandan

Rwandan

PatrioticFront

ArmedForces

1.2Revolution,exileofTutsi,andinyenzi

(RPF)

(FAR)

attacks
1.3FormationoftheRPFandpreparation
forwar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

Supportedby:
France(1990
1/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

2Warfare

1993)

Zaire(1990

2.11990invasion

1991)

2.2TheRPFregroup
2.3Guerrillawar
2.4Arushaaccordsandafter
2.5Militaryoperationsduringthe1994
genocide

Commandersandleaders
FredRwigyema
PeterBayingana
PaulKagame

3Aftermath
4Notes
5References

Juvnal
Habyarimana
ThonesteBagosora
Augustin
Bizimungu

Strength
20,000RPF[1]

35,000FAR[1]

6Externallinks
Casualtiesandlosses

Background

5,000killed

5,000killed

PreindependenceRwandaandoriginsofHutu,TutsiandTwa
TheearliestinhabitantsofwhatisnowRwandaweretheTwa,a
groupofaboriginalpygmyhuntergathererswhosettledinthearea
between8000BCand3000BCandremaininRwandatoday.[3][4]
Between700BCand1500AD,anumberofBantugroupsmigrated
intoRwanda,andbegantoclearforestlandforagriculture.[5][4]The
forestdwellingTwalostmuchoftheirhabitatandmovedtothe
slopesofmountains.[6]Historianshaveseveraltheoriesregarding
thenatureoftheBantumigrationsonetheoryisthatthefirst
settlerswereHutu,whiletheTutsimigratedlaterandformeda
AreconstructionoftheKingof
distinctracialgroup,possiblyofCushiticorigin.[7]Analternative
Rwanda'spalaceatNyanza
theoryisthatthemigrationwasslowandsteady,withincoming
groupsintegratingintoratherthanconqueringtheexisting
society.[8][4]Underthistheory,theHutuandTutsidistinctionaroselaterandwasaclassdistinctionrather
thanaracialone.[9][10]
Thepopulationcoalesced,firstintoclans(ubwoko),[11]andthen,by1700,intoaroundeightkingdoms.[12]
TheKingdomofRwanda,ruledbytheTutsiNyiginyaclan,becamethedominantkingdomfromthemid
eighteenthcentury,[13]expandingthroughaprocessofconquestandassimilation,[14]andachievingits
greatestextentunderthereignofKingKigeliRwabugirifrom185395.Rwabugiriexpandedthekingdom
westandnorth,[15][13]andinitiatedadministrativereformswhichcausedarifttogrowbetweentheHutu
andTutsipopulations.[15]TheBerlinConferenceof1884assignedtheterritorytoGermany,whichbegana
policyofrulingthroughtheRwandanmonarchy,andsupportingTutsichiefsaroundthecountry.[16]
BelgianforcestookcontrolofRwandaandBurundiduringWorldWarI,[17]andfrom1926beganapolicy
ofmoredirectcolonialrule.[18][19]TheBelgiansmodernisedtheRwandaneconomy,butTutsisupremacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

2/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

remained,leavingtheHutudisenfranchised.[20]In1935,Belgiumintroducedidentitycardslabellingeach
individualaseitherTutsi,Hutu,TwaorNaturalised.Whileithadpreviouslybeenpossibleforparticularly
wealthyHututobecomehonoraryTutsi,theidentitycardspreventedanyfurthermovementbetweenthe
classes.[21]

Revolution,exileofTutsi,andinyenziattacks
After1945,aHutucounterelitedeveloped,[22]leadingtoadeteriorationinrelationsbetweenthegroups
theTutsileadershipagitatedforspeedyindependencetocementtheirholdonpower,[23]whiletheHutu
elitecalledforthetransferofpowerfromTutsitoHutu,[24]astanceincreasinglysupportedbythechurch
andthecolonialgovernment.[25]InNovember1959,theHutubeganaseriesofriotsandarsonattackson
Tutsihomes,followingfalserumoursofthedeathofaHutusubchiefbyTutsiactivists.[26]Violence
quicklyspreadacrossthewholecountry,beginningtheRwandanRevolution.[27]ThekingandTutsi
politiciansattemptedafightback,[28]seekingtoseizepowerandostracisetheHutuandBelgians,[29]but
werethwartedbyBelgiancolonelGuyLogiest,whowasbroughtinbythecolonialgovernor.[28]Logiestre
establishedlawandorder,andbeganaprogrammeofovertpromotionandprotectionoftheHutuelite.[30]
TheBelgiansthenreplacedmanyTutsichiefsandsubchiefswithHutu,andconsignedtheking,KigeliV,
tofigureheadstatus[31]Kigelilaterfledthecountry.[32]DespitecontinuedantiTutsiviolence,Belgium
organisedlocalelectionsinmid1960,withHutupartiesgainingcontrolofalmostallcomunes,effectively
endingtherevolution.[33]LogiestandHutuleaderGrgoireKayibandadeclaredthecountryanautonomous
republicin1961,[34]anditbecameindependentin1962.[31]
Astherevolutionprogressed,morethan336,000TutsileftRwandatoescapetheHutupurges,[35]settling
primarilyinthefourneighbouringcountriesofBurundi,Uganda,TanzaniaandZaire.[36]TheTutsiexiles,
unliketheBanyarwandawhomigratedduringtheprecolonialandcolonialera,wereregardedasrefugees
intheirhostcountries,[37]andbeganalmostimmediatelytoagitateforareturntoRwanda.[38]Someformed
armedgroups,knownasinyenzi(cockroaches),[31]whofromlate1960launchedattacksintoRwandafrom
theneighbouringcountries,withmixedsuccess.[39]Theinyenziattackswerethemselvesadrivingforcein
propellingfurtherrefugeesacrosstheborders,asthegovernmentoftenrespondedtothemwithfurther
attacksonTutsistillresidinginRwanda.[31]Thelargestinyenziattackwasasurpriseassaultinlate1963,
advancingtopositionsclosetoKigali.[40]Theinvaderswerepoorlyequippedandorganised,however,and
thegovernmentdefeatedthem,followingupwiththeslaughterofanestimated10,000Tutsiwithin
Rwanda.[40]Theinternationalcommunitydidlittleinresponsetothesekillings,andthedefeatwasthefinal
blowfortheinyenzi,whoposednofurtherthreattoRwanda.[41]

FormationoftheRPFandpreparationforwar
In1979,UgandandictatorIdiAminwasdefeatedbyanallianceoftheTanzanianarmyandUgandan
rebels[42]amongtherebelfighterswereFredRwigyemaandPaulKagame,RwandanTutsirefugeeswho
hadjoinedYoweriMuseveni'sFrontforNationalSalvation(FRONASA).[43]MiltonOboteassumedthe
Ugandanpresidency,andbeganpersecutionanddiscriminationagainsttheTutsirefugees.[44]Inresponse,
therefugeesformedtheRwandanRefugeesWelfareAssociation,whichbecametheRwandanAlliancefor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

3/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

NationalUnity(RANU)thefollowingyear.[44]Museveniwasacabinetmemberinthetransition
government,andRwigyema,KagameandsomeotherRwandanrefugeesremainedallegianttohim.[45]
Obotewonthe1980generalelection,butMusevenidisputedtheresult,andhe,RwigyemaandKagame
withdrewfromthenewgovernmentinprotest,formingtherebelNationalResistanceArmy(NRA).[46][47]
Thearmy'sgoalwastooverthrowObote'sgovernment,inwhatbecameknownastheUgandanBush
War.[47][48]PresidentOboteremainedhostiletotheRwandanrefugeesRANUwasforcedintoexilein
1981,relocatingtoNairobi,Kenya,[49]andin1982AnkoleyouthsattackedtheRwandans,withthe
authorityofObote,[50]causingmanymoretojoinMuseveni'sNRA.[51]
In1986,theNRAcapturedKampalawithaforceof14,000soldiers,including500Rwandans,andformed
anewgovernment.[52]AfterMuseveniwasinauguratedaspresident,heappointedKagameandRwigyema
asseniorofficersinthenewUgandanarmy.[53][54]TheexperienceoftheBushWargaveRwigyemaand
KagameinspirationtoconsideranattackagainstRwanda,andaswellasfulfillingtheirarmyduties,they
beganbuildingacovertnetworkofRwandanTutsirefugeeswithinthearmy'sranks,intendedasthe
nucleusforsuchanattack.[55]WiththeprorefugeeMuseveniinpower,RANUwasabletomovebackto
Kampala.Atits1987convention,itrenameditselftotheRwandanPatrioticFront(RPF),andittoo
committedtoreturningtherefugeestoRwandabyanymeanspossible.[56]In1988,aleadershipcrisis
withintheRPFpromptedFredRwigyematointerveneintheorganisationandtakecontrol,replacingPeter
BayinganaasRPFpresident.[57]KagameandotherseniormembersofRwigyema'sRwandanentourage
withintheNRAalsojoined,withKagameassumingthevicepresidency.[57]Bayinganaremainedasthe
othervicepresident,butresentedthelossoftheleadership.[57]
RwandanPresidentJuvnalHabyarimanawasawareoftheincreasingnumberofTutsiexilesinthe
Ugandanarmy,andmaderepresentationstoPresidentMusevenionthematter.[58]Atthesametime,many
nativeUgandansbegancriticisingMusevenioverhisappointmentofRwandanrefugeestosenior
positions.[59]HethereforedemotedKagameandRwigyema.[58]Theyremaineddefactoseniorofficers,but
thechangecausedthemtoacceleratetheirplanstoinvadeRwanda.[60]In1990,adisputeinsouthwestern
UgandabetweenUgandanranchownersandsquattersontheirland,manyofwhomwereRwandans,[61]led
toawiderdebateonindigeneityandeventuallytotheexplicitlabellingofallRwandanrefugeesasnon
citizens.[62]Realisingtheprecariousnessoftheirownpositions,andtheopportunityaffordedbyboththe
reneweddriveofrefugeestoleaveUganda,andtheprecariousRwandandomesticscene,Rwigyemaand
Kagamedecidedtoeffecttheirinvasionplansimmediately.[63]

Warfare
1990invasion
At2:30pmon1October1990,fiftyRPFrebelsdesertedtheirUgandanarmypostsandcrossedtheborder
fromUgandaintoRwanda,killingacustomsguardattheKagitumbaborderpost.[64]Theywerefollowed
byhundredsmorerebels,dressedintheuniformsoftheUgandannationalarmyandcarryingUgandan
weaponry,includingmachinegunsandrocketlaunchers.[64]RPFdemandsincludedanendtoethnic
segregationandthesystemofidentitycards,aswellasotherpoliticalandeconomicreformsthatportrayed
theRPFasademocraticandtolerantorganizationseekingtodeposeadangerousandcorruptregime.[65]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

4/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

BothPresidentYoweriMuseveniofUgandaandPresidentHabyarimanaofRwandawereinNewYork
attendingtheUnitedNationsWorldSummitforChildren.[66]TheroleofUgandawasimmediatelybrought
intoquestion.ItislikelythatMuseveniknewoftheRPFanditsplannedinvasion,butdidnotexplicitly
supportit.[67]Musevenihadseveralmotivesfornotinterfering,includingstabilityinwesternUgandaand
thepossibilityofastrengthenedpositioninfuturerefugeenegotiationswithHabyarimana.[68]Museveni
deniesanyknowledgehowever,statingyearslaterinaconferencewithfellowAfricanheadsofstate,that
theRPFhadlaunchedtheinvasion"withoutpriorconsultation".[69]Musevenialsosaidlaterthat"faced
with[a]faitaccomplisituationbyourRwandanbrothers,"Ugandawent"tohelptheRPF,materially,so
thattheyarenotdefeatedbecausethatwouldhavebeendetrimentaltotheTutsipeopleofRwandaand
wouldnothavebeengoodforUganda'sstability."[69]
Inthefirstfewdaysoffighting,theRPFmadesignificantprogress,advancing60km(37mi)southtothe
townofGabiro.[70]TheirRwandanArmedForces(FAR)opponentswerenumericallysuperior,with5,200
soldiers,andpossessedarmouredcarsandhelicopterssuppliedbyFrance,buttheRPFbenefittedfromthe
elementofsurprise.[70]TheRPFsufferedasignificantreversalonthethirdday,however,whencommander
FredRwigyemawaskilled.ItislikelythatRwigyemawaskilledbyhissubcommanderPeterBayingana,
followinganargumentovertactics,[71]althoughthecurrentRPFledGovernmentofRwandacontendthat
hewaskilledbyastraybullet.[72]
TheoffensivefailedafterFranceandZairemilitarilyintervened.Zairesentseveralhundredtroopsofthe
eliteSpecialPresidentialDivision(DSP)tofightalongsideRwandangovernmenttroops.Inamilitary
operationcodenamedNorot,Francedeployedthe1stand3rdcompaniesofthe8thMarineInfantry
ParachuteRegiment,consistingof125soldiers,whowerebasedintheCentralAfricanRepublic,tosupport
theRwandangovernment.[73][74]Theseforceswerelaterjoinedbyelementsofthe2ndForeignParachute
Regiment,3rdMarineInfantryParachuteRegimentand13thParachuteDragoonRegiment.[74]France,
whichhadsignedadefensepactwithHabyarimanain1975,insistedthatitsforceshadbeendeployed
strictlytoprotectitsnationals,buttheparachutecompaniessetuppositionsblockingtheRPFadvanceto
thecapitalandKigaliInternationalAirport.Col.RenGalinihadcommandoftheinitialdeployment,but
wasreplacedbyCol.JeanClaudeThomannon19October.FrancealsosuppliedtheRwandangovernment
withshipmentsofartillery,mortarsandothermilitaryequipment,alongwithfinancialaid.Franceclaimed
tobecountering"aggressionlaunchedfromanEnglishspeakingcountry."[75]Atfirst,Belgiumalso
supportedthegovernmentbutcutallmilitaryaidshortlyafterhostilitiesbegan,citingadomesticlaw
prohibitingtheirmilitaryfromtakingpartinacivilwar.France,incontrast,supportedtheregimeandgave
significantmilitaryandfinancialsupport,thusreplacingBelgiumasRwanda'smajorforeignsponsor.[75][76]
On7October1990,thegovernmentforceslaunchedacounteroffensive.TheRPFwhohadonlyprepared
forashortwarbegantofallbackwhenitbecameclearthattheydidnothavetheheavyequipmentneeded
tofacethegovernmentforcesinaconventionalconflict.MajorPaulKagame,whowasintheUnitedStates
takingacourseattheCommandandGeneralStaffCollege,wascontactedandreturnedtotakecontrolof
therebelforces.Tomakemattersworse,on23October,twomoreRPFcommanders,MajorPeter
Bayingana,whohadtakendefactocommand,andChrisBunyenyezi,werearrestedbySalimSaleh,the
Ugandanpresident'sbrother,forthemurderofRwigyemaandbroughtbacktoUgandaforinterrogationand
eventualexecution.[77]TheRPFforcewasthrownintoconfusionandbytheendofthemonth,hadbeen
pushedbackintoAkageraNationalParkinthenortheastcornerofthecountry.[78][79]Frenchspotterplanes
wereusedtofindretreatingRPFunitssotheycouldbedestroyedbytheFAR.[76]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

5/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Onthenightof4October,theRwandangovernmentstagedafakeattackonKigaliwithgunfireand
explosionsaroundthecity.Thispieceoftheaterwasintendedtofrightenthepopulaceintosupportingthe
warandencouragingthereportingofsuspectedRPFsympathizersamongtheTutsi.Over10,000people
werearrested.Thereactionalsoincludeddirectedkilling.Awitnesstestifiedthat,on2October,para
commandosunderMajorAloysNtabakuzeseparatedciviliansfleeingthefightingatUmutaraintoHutuand
Tutsi,andusedgrenadestokilltheTutsi.Eightdayslater,anotherwitnesstestifiedthatNtabakuzeordered
theethniccleansingofavillagecalledBahima.Tendaysaftertheinvasion,localofficialsinKibilirawere
toldtokillthelocalinyenziandburndowntheirhomesbecauseofthethreatoftheRPFoffensive.Atleast
348civilianswerekilledin48hours.[80]

TheRPFregroup
Onhisarrival,PaulKagamebegantoreorganizetheRPF
forces,whichhadbeenreducedtolessthan2,000troops,and
decidedtodevelopaguerrillawarfareinthenorthofthe
country.[81]MusevenigrantedpermissionfortheRPFtoretreat
backintoUgandaforonenight,duringwhichKagameandthe
troopscompletedatiringovernightmarchwesttotheVirunga
mountains,ahighaltitudeareainwhichtheRwandanarmy
couldnotattackthem.[82]TheRPFspenttwomonthsinthe
mountains,withoutengagingthegovernmentforces.
Conditionswereharshandsomemembersofthearmyperished
duetofreezingtemperatures.[83]

Topographicalmap.TheRPFwaspushed
intoAkageraNationalPark,anareaof
rollinghillsandsavannainthenortheast
corner,butKagamemovedthemtothe
forestedVirungaMountainsinthecentral
north.

ThetimeintheVirungaswasspentreorganisingthearmyand
rebuildingtheleadershipthathadsufferedsomuchduringthe
fighting.AlexisKanyarengwe,aHutuandformerallyof
Habyarimana,wasappointedRPFchairmanhowever,Tutsis
continuedtomakeupthemajorityoftheleadership.[83]Duringthistime,theRPFalsorecruitedfromthe
Tutsidiaspora.InadditiontoUgandans,newmembersarrivedfromBurundi,Tanzania,Zaire,theUnited
States,andEurope.[84]Byearly1991,theRPFhadgrownto5,000by1992ithadreached12,000and
duringthe1994offensiveitnumbered25,000.[85]

Inadditiontorecruitingpersonnel,theRPFcarriedoutfundraisingactivity.TheTutsidiasporaworldwide
contributed,asdidsomebusinessmenwithinRwandawhowerethevictimsofcorruptionbythe
Habyarimanaregime.[86]TheRPFrearmeditself,bothbypurchasingarmsontheinternationalmarketand
relyingonclandestinesupplyfromformercolleaguesinofficercorpsoftheUgandanarmy.[87]

Guerrillawar
ByJanuary1991,Kagamerestartedthewar.Thefirstmove,on23January1991,wasasurpriseattackon
thenortherntownofRuhengeri.RuhengeriwaschosenduetoitsproximitytotheVirungamountainsand
itsperceptionasbeingastrongholdoftheHabyarimanaregime.[88]TheRPFcapturedthetown,benefiting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

6/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

fromtheelementofsurprise,andhelditforonedaybeforeretreatingbacktotheforests.[89]Duringthe
occupationtheycapturedweaponsandequipmentfromtheRwandanarmyandstormedRuhengeriprison,
freeingpoliticalprisoners.[89]TheattacksucceededincreatingaclimateoffearinRwanda.[89]
FollowingthisactiontheRPFwithdrewandbegantocarryoutaclassichitandrunstyleguerrillawar.Low
intensityfightingdraggedonwithneithersidemanagingtoinflict
anymajordefeatsontheother.TheRPFstartedbroadcastingfrom
UgandaintoRwandaonitsownradiostation,calledRadio
Muhaburain1991.ItwasmonitoredbytheBBCstartingin1992,
andwasmostlyapropagandainstrumentfortheRPF.Itaccused
theHabyarimanagovernmentofgenocideasearlyasJanuary1993,
evenbeforetheArushaaccords.Overthenextfewyearstherewere
numerousattemptsatceasefires,thoughtheyachievedlittleandthe
fightingcontinueduntil13July1992whenaceasefirewassigned
inArusha.
ThetownofRuhengeri,withthe
VirungaMountainsinthebackground

Arushaaccordsandafter

Thewardraggedonforalmost2.5yearsuntilaceasefireaccordwassignedon12July1992,inArusha,
Tanzania,fixingatimetableforanendtothefightingandpoliticaltalks,leadingtoapeaceaccordand
powersharing,andauthorizinganeutralmilitaryobservergroupundertheauspicesoftheOrganizationfor
AfricanUnity.Theceasefiretookeffecton31July1992,andpoliticaltalksbegan30September1992.
Overthecourseofthefollowingmonthsnegotiationscontinued,thoughwithoutanyseriousbreakthroughs
andwiththetensiononbothsidesmounting.Finally,followingreportsofmassacresofTutsi,theRPF
launchedamajoroffensiveon8February1993.
Thisoffensiveforcedthegovernmentforcesbackindisarray,allowingtheRPFtoquicklycapturethetown
ofRuhengeri,andthentoturnsouthandbeginadvancingonthecapital.ThiscausedpanicinParis(along
termsupporteroftheHabyarimanaregime)whichimmediatelysentseveralhundredFrenchtroopstothe
countryalongwithlargeamountsofammunitionfortheFARartillery.ThearrivaloftheseFrenchtroopsin
Kigaliseriouslychangedthemilitarysituationontheground.Implicitintheirsupportforthegovernment
andtheirrapiddeploymentwasthethreatthat,shouldtheRPFadvanceonthecapital,thentheymayfind
themselvesfightingFrenchparatroopersaswellasRwandangovernmentsoldiers.On20February,withthe
RPFonly30km(19mi)northofKigali,therebelsdeclaredaunilateralceasefireandoverthefollowing
monthspulledtheirforcesback.Bythattime,over1.5millioncivilians,mostlyHutu,hadlefttheirhomes.
Anuneasypeacewasonceagainenteredinto,whichwouldlastuntil7Aprilofthefollowingyear.Overthe
followingmonthsthepeaceprocessdeveloped.OneofthestipulationsoftheagreementwasthattheRPF
wouldstationanumberofdiplomatsinKigaliattheCNDparliamentbuilding.Thesemenweretobe
protectedbybetween6001000RPFsoldiers.
TheTutsidiasporamiscalculatedthereactionofitsinvasionofRwanda.ThoughtheTutsiobjectiveseemed
tobetopressuretheRwandangovernmentintomakingconcessionswhichwouldstripTutsioftheirlargely
'secondclass'status,theinvasionwasseenasanattempttobringtheTutsiethnicgroupbackintopower.
Theeffectwastoincreaseethnictensionstoalevelhigherthantheyhadeverbeen.Huturalliedaroundthe
President.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

7/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Militaryoperationsduringthe1994genocide
Thissectiondetailstheconductofthewarduringthe1994genocide.Fordetailsofthegenocide
itself,seeRwandanGenocide.
On6April1994,PresidentHabyarimanareturnedfromnegotiationsinDaresSalaamwhenhispresidential
jetwasshotdown,killingallinside.Interahamweandthepresidentialguardbegantokillopposition
politiciansandprominentTutsi.Overthefollowingdays,itbecameclearthatthetargetofthesekillings
wastheentireTutsipopulationalongwithcertainmoderateHutu.TheRwandanGenocidehadbegunand
wouldlastthreemonths,killinghundredsofthousandsofpeople,about937,000accordingtotheRPF.
Thenatureofthegenocidewasnotimmediatelyapparenttoforeignobservers,andwasinitiallyexplained
asaviolentphaseofthecivilwar.MarkDoyle,thecorrespondentfortheBBCNewsinKigali,triedto
explainthecomplexsituationinlateApril1994thusly,
Look,youhavetounderstandthattherearetwowarsgoingonhere.Theresashootingwar
andagenocidewar.Thetwoareconnected,butalsodistinct.Intheshootingwar,therearetwo
conventionalarmiesateachother,andinthegenocidewar,oneofthosearmies,the
governmentsidewithhelpfromcivilians,isinvolvedinmasskillings.[90]
Bytheeveningof7AprilwithkillingsbecomingwidespreadandtheRPFbattalionintheparliament
buildingcomingunderattack,theRPFreneweditsoffensivesouth.TheRPFtroopswithintheparliament
buildinghadfortifiedtheirdefencesduringthepreviousmonths,incasetheywerecaughtinthecapital
withtheirsupplylinescutandunderattack.Now,thesetroopswereengagedbytheRwandanarmyinthe
nearbyarmycampatKanombe,neartheairport.Therebelforceswithintheparliamentcomplex,
commandedbyLtColCharlisKayonnga,begantofighttheirwayoutandbegantoattackthesurrounding
governmenthelddistricts.Theirprimaryfocus,however,wastomovenorthandlinkupwiththemain
rebelarmy.
ThemainRPFforcesinthenorthbeganathreepronged
attackonthemorningof8April.Onegroupmoved
westtoRuhengeriandCharMobileForcecommanded
bycolGashumbaengagedgovernmentforcesthere,
althoughtheywouldmakelittleprogressandwere
morelikelyadefensiveforcesecuringtherightflankof
theRPFadvancesouth.Thesecondgroupunderthe
commandofColonelEugenBagire(Commanding
MountGahinga(left)andMountMuhabura(right)
officerofthe7thBattalion)andLieutenantColonel
intheVirungaMountainsarelocatedalongthe
FredIbingira(Commandingofficerofthe157
UgandaRwandaborder.
Battalion)moveddowntheeasternborderofthe
countrytowardsKibungo.Thethirdgroupunderthe
commandofColonelSamKaka(commanderofALFAMobileForce),Col.CharlisNgoga(59thBattalion),
Col.Musitu(21stBattalion),CharlisMuhire(101Battalion)andLudovicTwahirwa(knownasDodo,
commanderoftheBravoMobileforce)managedtomakeamajoradvancetowardsthecapitalbythe

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

8/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

eveningof11April.Bothsidesbegantoreinforceandstrengthentheirpositions,withtheRPFbeginninga
slowbuteffectiveencirclementofthecity.On12April,theprovisionalgovernmentfledtoGitaramainan
attempttoescapethefighting.
Intheeast,theRPFfacedlittlegovernmentresistanceandreachedtheTanzanianborderon22April.
However,withalmostalloftheRPF'sheavyequipmentfocusedonthebattleforKigali,thewestern
advanceonRuhengeristalemated.
Inthecapital,theRPFadvancecontinueditsslowyetmethodicalencirclementofthecity,forcingthe
airporttocloseon5Mayduetointenseshelling.AfurthersignofthesuccessofKagame'stroopswasthe
cuttingoftheKigaliGitaramaroadon16May.ThiswasfollowedsixdayslaterbythecaptureofKigali
InternationalAirport.Inanattempttoreversethedefeatsthatitwassuffering,theFARlaunchedacounter
attackon6June,althoughthiswashaltedalmostimmediatelyandfailedtoachieveanysignificantgains.
TheRPFforces,havingcontrolofthenorthern,easternandsouthernsuburbs,begantomovenortharound
thesouthwesternedgeofthecity.ThisputfurtherpressureonGitaramawhichfellon13June.Atthis
point,theRPFbegantocloseinonthecenterofthecapital,hopingtodefeatthegovernmentforcesinthe
field.Thistooktheformofputtingpressureonthreesidesofthecitywithinfantryandlightartilleryand
mortars,allowingthedefendersnorespite.HeavyfightingcontinuedthroughJuneandintothefirstweek
onJuly.However,on3Julythegovernmentforcesbegantowithdrawfromthecapital,takingwiththem
themajorityofthecivilianpopulation.AccordingtoUNsources,theyhadalmostcompletelyrunoutof
ammunition.Thefollowingday,afterathreemonthlongbattle,theRPFmovedinandcapturedtheentire
capital.
Inthemeantime,theRPF'seasternforceshadreachedthesoutheasternedgeofthecountryandthenswung
onanaxis,hingedonKigali,westward.ThroughJunetheypushedthegovernmentforceswestthroughthe
southernregion,alongtheborderwithBurundi.TheyfinallystoppedfollowingtheircaptureofButareon2
JulyandthearrivaloftheFrench,whoblockedtheirpathwiththeimplementationofOprationTurquoise.
WiththefallofKigali,thegovernmentforcesbegantodisintegrate.Thearmylostcohesionandbeganto
rout,beingcloselypursuedbytheRPF.ThismadedefendingthelasttwonortherntownsofRuhengeriand
Gisenyialmostimpossible.WithhisforcesinthecapitalnowfreedupfromthebattleforKigali,Kagame
movedthebulkofhisarmynorthtocapturethegovernment'snewpowerbase.On13July,Ruhengeri
finallycapitulated,followedon18JulybyGisenyi.
Inthesouthwestofthecountry,FrenchforcesfromOperationTurquoisecontrolledalargearea,which
wasgivenovertotheRPFon21August1994,thusgivingtheRPFcompletecontrolofthecountry.

Aftermath
TheTutsirebelsdefeatedtheHuturegimeandendedthegenocideinJuly1994,butapproximatelytwo
millionHuturefugeessomewhoparticipatedinthegenocideandfearedTutsiretaliationfledto
neighboringBurundi,Tanzania,Uganda,andZaire.Thousandsdiedinepidemicsofcholeraanddysentery
thatswepttherefugeecamps.Theinternationalcommunityrespondedwithoneofthelargesthumanitarian
reliefeffortsevermounted.TheRassemblementDmocratiquepourleRwanda,composedofHututroops
andmilitiamembers,begantomilitarizethecamps,usingthemasbasestooverthrowthenewRPF
dominatedgovernment.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

9/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

Itspatienceexhausted,RwandasponsoredaninvasionofZairein1996.Itschosenproxyforcewasthe
AllianceofDemocraticForcesfortheLiberationofCongo(AFDL)ledbyLaurentDsirKabila.The
AFDLandRwandanforces,supportedbyUganda,clearedtheborderrefugeecampseasily.However,
manyHutumilitantsfledwestwards,awayfromtheborder.TheAFDLfollowedbehind,marchingtowards
KinshasaastheregimeofMobutuSeseSekocollapsed.TheAFDLoverthrewthegovernmentandKabila
proclaimedhimselfthenewpresidentoftherenamedDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo(DRC)inMay
1997.
KabilasoonturnedonhisRwandanandUgandansupporters,whoreinvadedtheDRCin1998tooverthrow
Kabila.KabilaformedanalliancewiththeArmyfortheLiberationofRwanda,thesuccessororganization
totheRassemblementDmocratiquepourleRwanda.AfterKabilawasassassinatedin2001andhisson
Josephbecamepresident,HutumilitantsreformedintotheDemocraticForcesfortheLiberationofRwanda
(FDLR).
Thewarendedofficiallyin2003.However,theremnantsoftheFDLRandpossiblyotherHutumilitants
maintainapresenceineasternCongo.WhilenotstrongenoughtoposeathreattotheKagamegovernment,
theycontinuetodestabilizetheRwandaDRCborderregion.

Notes
1. ^abIPEP2000.
2. ^"Timeline:Rwanda"(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1070329.stm),BBCNews,8August
2008tosupportwording"ostensiblyended"
3. ^Chrtien2003,p.44.
4. ^abcMamdani2002,p.61.
5. ^Chrtien2003,p.58.
6. ^King2007,p.75.
7. ^Prunier1999,p.16.
8. ^Mamdani2002,p.58.
9. ^Chrtien2003,p.69.
10. ^Shyaka,pp.1011.
11. ^Chrtien2003,pp.8889.
12. ^Chrtien2003,p.482.
13. ^abChrtien2003,p.160.
14. ^Dorsey1994,p.38.
15. ^abMamdani2002,p.69.
16. ^Prunier1999,p.25.
17. ^Prunier1999,pp.2526.
18. ^Prunier1999,p.26.
19. ^Chrtien2003,p.260.
20. ^Prunier1999,p.35.
21. ^Gourevitch2000,pp.5657.
22. ^Mamdani2002,p.108.
23. ^Prunier1999,p.43.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

10/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

24. ^Prunier1999,pp.4546.
25. ^Mamdani2002,p.113.
26. ^Carney2013,p.124.
27. ^Carney2013,p.125.
28. ^abNewbury1988,p.196.
29. ^Newbury1988,pp.195196.
30. ^Carney2013,p.127.
31. ^abcdPrunier1999,p.54.
32. ^Sabar2013.
33. ^Prunier1999,p.52.
34. ^Prunier1999,p.53.
35. ^Prunier1999,p.62.
36. ^Mamdani2002,pp.160161.
37. ^Prunier1999,pp.6364.
38. ^Prunier1999,pp.5556.
39. ^Prunier1999,p.55.
40. ^abPrunier1999,p.56.
41. ^Prunier1999,p.57.
42. ^StateHouse,RepublicofUganda.
43. ^Prunier1999,p.68.
44. ^abPrunier1999,p.67.
45. ^Kinzer2008,p.20.
46. ^AssociatedPress(I)1981.
47. ^abKinzer2008,p.39.
48. ^Nganda2009.
49. ^Prunier1999,p.63.
50. ^Prunier1999,p.69.
51. ^Prunier1999,p.70.
52. ^Kinzer2008,p.47.
53. ^Kinzer2008,pp.5051.
54. ^Simpson(I)2000.
55. ^Kinzer2008,pp.5152.
56. ^Prunier1999,p.73.
57. ^abcBamurangirwa2013,p.80.
58. ^abKinzer2008,p.53.
59. ^Mamdani2002,p.175.
60. ^Kinzer2008,pp.5354.
61. ^Mamdani2002,p.176.
62. ^Mamdani2002,p.182.
63. ^Kinzer2008,p.57.
64. ^abPrunier1999,p.93.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

11/14

3/4/2015

64. ^abPrunier1999,p.93.

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

65. ^Melvern2000,pp.1314.
66. ^"Rwandacallsforaidtohaltrebels"(http://www.guardian.co.uk/rwanda/story/0,,1187817,00.html)byRobert
Biles,TheGuardian,October4,1990
67. ^Prunier1999,pp.9798.
68. ^Prunier1999,p.98.
69. ^abMamdani2002,p.183.
70. ^abPrunier1999,p.94.
71. ^Prunier2009,pp.1314.
72. ^GovernmentofRwanda2009.
73. ^"Chronologiedunecollaborationfranaiseavecltatrwandais"(http://www.hikabisa.com/FRANCE
RWANDA/france2.htm),hikabisa.com(French)
74. ^ab"MotifsetmodalitsdemiseenoeuvredeloprationNorot"(http://www.voltairenet.org/article8108.html),
VoltaireNetwork,15December1998(French)
75. ^ab"WhyHutuandTutsiAreKillingEachOther:ARwandaPrimer"
(http://www.franksmyth.com/A5584C/clients/franksmyth/frankS2.nsf/0dee0e07cc6e95e785256b6c005611b0/d80a
84a27a6ccec08525702d0053348e?OpenDocument)byFrankSmyth,franksmyth.com,24April1994Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20071009083629/http://www.franksmyth.com/A5584C/clients/franksmyth/frankS2.n
sf/0dee0e07cc6e95e785256b6c005611b0/d80a84a27a6ccec08525702d0053348e?OpenDocument)9October2007
attheWaybackMachine
76. ^abMelvern2000,p.14.
77. ^Prunier,pp.1314.
78. ^"InterviewwithKagameHabyarimanaKnewOfPlansToKillKim"
(http://www.newsafrica.com/article143.html)byCharlesOnyangoObbo,TheMonitor,December19,1997
79. ^Timeline:EmergencysituationsandtheirimpactontheVirungaVolcanoes
(http://www.worldwildlife.org/bsp/publications/africa/144/timeline.htm),WorldWildlifeFund
80. ^Melvern2000,pp.1415.
81. ^Melvern2000,pp.2730.
82. ^Prunier1999,pp.114115.
83. ^abPrunier1999,p.115.
84. ^Prunier1999,p.116.
85. ^Prunier1999,p.117.
86. ^Prunier1999,pp.117118.
87. ^Prunier1999,pp.118119.
88. ^Prunier1999,p.119.
89. ^abcPrunier1999,p.120.
90. ^TranscriptofremarksbyMarkDoyle
(http://www.carleton.ca/mediagenocide/documents/transcript/panel3/doyle.html)inPanel3:Internationalmedia
coverageoftheGenocideofthesymposiumMediaandtheRwandanGenocideheldatCarletonUniversity,13
March2004Archived
(https://web.archive.org/web/20070927193422/http://www.carleton.ca/mediagenocide/documents/transcript/panel3
/doyle.html)27September2007attheWaybackMachine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

12/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

/doyle.html)27September2007attheWaybackMachine

References
Appiah,AnthonyGates,HenryLouis(2010).EncyclopediaofAfrica,Volume1(http://books.google.com/?
id=A0XNvklcqbwC)(illustrateded.).Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN9780195337709.
BBCNews(I)(20100309)."MbonyumutwasonprotestsatRwandaleaderexhumation"
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8557085.stm).Retrieved20141223.
BBCNews(II)(20100112)."Hutus'killedRwandaPresidentJuvenalHabyarimana' "
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/8453832.stm).Retrieved20120216.
Carney,J.J.(2013).RwandaBeforetheGenocide:CatholicPoliticsandEthnicDiscourseintheLateColonial
Era(http://books.google.com/books?id=IawzAAAAQBAJ).Oxford:OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN9780
199982271.
Chrtien,JeanPierre(2003).TheGreatLakesofAfrica:TwoThousandYearsofHistory
(http://books.google.com/books?id=Ezo5PQAACAAJ).Cambridge,Mass.:MITPress.ISBN978189095134
4.
Dallaire,Romo(2005).ShakeHandswiththeDevil:TheFailureofHumanityinRwanda
(http://books.google.com/books?id=Ja2hQgAACAAJ).London:Arrow.ISBN9780099478935.
Dorsey,Learthen(1994).HistoricalDictionaryofRwanda.Metuchen,N.J.:ScarecrowPress.ISBN97808108
28209.
Gourevitch,Philip(2000).WeWishToInformYouThatTomorrowWeWillBeKilledWithOurFamilies
(http://books.google.com/?id=8OiMfpTiApQC)(Reprinted.).LondonNewYork,N.Y.:Picador.ISBN9780
330371209.
HalseyCarr,RosamondHalsey,AnnHoward(2000).LandofaThousandHills:MyLifeinRwanda
(http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=u7BmVERqtiQC&pg=PT115).Penguin.p.115.ISBN9781101143513.
Henley,Jon(20071031)."Scartissue"(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/oct/31/rwanda.theatre).The
Guardian(London).Retrieved20120216.
King,DavidC.(2007).Rwanda(CulturesoftheWorld)(http://books.google.com/books?id=1yLx1zSuh_QC).
NewYork,N.Y.:BenchmarkBooks.ISBN9780761423331.
Linden,IanLinden,Jane(1977).ChurchandRevolutioninRwanda(http://books.google.com/books?
id=DgXoAAAAIAAJ)(illustrateded.).Manchester:ManchesterUniversityPress.ISBN9780719006715.
Mamdani,Mahmood(2002).WhenVictimsBecomeKillers:Colonialism,Nativism,andtheGenocideinRwanda
(http://books.google.com/books?id=QUEamxb89JcC).Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress.ISBN9780
691102801.
Melvern,Linda(2000).Apeoplebetrayed:theroleoftheWestinRwanda'sgenocide(http://books.google.com/?
id=rhsRrxZtJwMC)(8,illustrated,reprinted.).LondonNewYork,N.Y.:ZedBooks.ISBN978185649831
9.
Newbury,Catharine(1988).TheCohesionofOppression:ClientshipandEthnicityinRwanda,18601960
(http://books.google.com/books?id=0d4gKa8OhiYC).NewYork,N.Y.:ColumbiaUniversityPress.ISBN9780
231062572.
Prunier,Grard(1999).TheRwandaCrisis:HistoryofaGenocide(http://books.google.com/books?
id=O3aNPwAACAAJ)(2nded.).Kampala:FountainPublishersLimited.ISBN9789970020898.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

13/14

3/4/2015

RwandanCivilWarWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

RwandaDevelopmentBoard(RDB)(I)(6January2009)."TourismandConservationPerformancein2008"
(http://www.rwandatourism.com/tourism_performance_2008.htm).Retrieved16February2012.
Sabar,Ariel(27March2013)."AKingWithNoCountry"(http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/people/a
kingwithnocountry/indexp3.php).Washingtonian(Washington,D.C.).Retrieved20141221.
Shyaka,Anastase."TheRwandanConflict:Origin,Development,ExitStrategies"
(http://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/handle/2152/4746/3833.pdf?sequence=1).NationalUnityand
ReconciliationCommission,RepublicofRwanda.Retrieved20120216.
UnitedNations(II)."InternationalTrusteeshipSystem"(http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/its.shtml).
Retrieved20120228.
UnitedNations(III)."TrustandNonSelfGoverningTerritories(19451999)"
(http://www.un.org/en/decolonization/nonselfgov.shtml).Retrieved20120228.
UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)(2010)."HumanDevelopmentIndexTrends,19802010"
(http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2010_EN_Table2.pdf).Retrieved20120229.

Externallinks
RwandaCivilWar(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/rwanda.htm),
globalsecurity.org
HumanRightsDevelopmentsinRwanda(http://www.hrw.org/reports/1992/WR92/AFW
07.htm#P451_159300),HumanRightsWatchreportof1992
Retrievedfrom"http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rwandan_Civil_War&oldid=648922467"
Categories: WarsinvolvingthestatesandpeoplesofAfrica MilitaryhistoryofAfrica
HistoryofRwanda RwandanGenocide CivilwarsinvolvingthestatesandpeoplesofAfrica
Civilwarspost1945 Ethnicitybasedcivilwars
WarsinvolvingtheDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo Revolutionbasedcivilwars
Thispagewaslastmodifiedon26February2015,at11:02.
TextisavailableundertheCreativeCommonsAttributionShareAlikeLicenseadditionaltermsmay
apply.Byusingthissite,youagreetotheTermsofUseandPrivacyPolicy.Wikipediaisa
registeredtrademarkoftheWikimediaFoundation,Inc.,anonprofitorganization.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

14/14