Rwandan Civil War (1990-1993) Notes

The Rwandan Civil War (1990-1993)

1. Outbreak of war (1990)
   1. Civil war erupted in 1990 between the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and the Rwandan government.
   2. The conflict centered on issues of Tutsi return, power-sharing, and ethnic tensions.
   3. On October 1, the RPF, composed mainly of Tutsi exiles based in Uganda, launched an attack on Rwanda.
   4. The war lasted until the signing of the 1993 Arusha Accords.
2. Habyarimana regime response
   1. By this time, the Habyarimana regime had lost legitimacy among many Rwandans.
   2. The government used the invasion to promote a unifying Hutu identity, portraying the RPF as an external enemy.
   3. The regime faced growing opposition due to corruption, economic decline, ethnic favoritism, and authoritarian rule.
   4. Many Rwandans saw the government as illegitimate and unrepresentative of national interests.

RPF under Paul Kagame

1. Retreat and reorganization
   1. After foreign intervention halted their initial campaign, the RPF retreated and restructured under Paul Kagame’s leadership.
   2. This pause allowed them to train, reorganize, and adopt guerrilla tactics for a prolonged conflict.
   3. These changes set the stage for future offensives and the eventual 1994 campaign after the collapse of peace efforts.
2. Transformation into a guerrilla army
   1. Under Kagame’s leadership, the RPF was transformed from a small, disorganized force into an effective guerrilla army of about 15,000.
   2. Kagame’s military background and his ties to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni strengthened the RPF and ensured its survival.

Pressures Leading to the Arusha Accords

1. Internal and external pressures on Habyarimana
   1. The worsening treatment of Tutsis created both internal and external pressure on the Habyarimana regime.
   2. Internally, Hutu politicians and civil society demanded democratic reforms.
   3. Externally, donors like France and Belgium conditioned aid on political liberalization.
   4. Combined with military pressure from the RPF, these forces compelled Habyarimana to abandon exclusive MRND rule and adopt a multi-party system in 1991 amid mounting instability.
2. Rise of extremist opposition
   1. Extremist Hutu groups such as the Coalition for the Defence of the Republic (CDR) gained influence, undermining reform.
   2. Founded in 1992, the CDR rejected any form of power-sharing with the RPF.
   3. It promoted an ultranationalist and ethnically exclusionary ideology, mobilizing popular support through propaganda.
   4. The CDR vilified Tutsis and accused moderates of betraying the Hutu cause.

The Arusha Peace Agreement (1993)

1. Main provisions of the Accords
   1. Power Sharing: Established a transitional government in Rwanda, including both the RPF and the existing government, to share political power and prepare for democratic elections.
   2. Security Arrangements: Outlined the integration of RPF forces into the national army and called for a ceasefire, supervised by a neutral international peacekeeping force.
   3. Reconciliation and Rights: Promoted national reconciliation, human rights, and mechanisms to address past injustices, aiming to reduce ethnic violence and build lasting peace.
2. Exclusion of extremists
   1. Extremist groups like the CDR were excluded from the peace talks.
   2. Their exclusion weakened the peace process and fueled radical Hutu opposition.
3. UN involvement
   1. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) was established in August 1993, led by Canadian General Romeo Dallaire.
   2. UNAMIR was tasked with monitoring the ceasefire and assisting with the transition process.
   3. Dallaire and UNAMIR’s role will be examined in the corresponding section.