By Emmanuel Neretse
June 29, 2009
Also available in French.
In Rwanda, the 4th of July marks the commemoration of Kigali-City capture by the Tutsi-dominated RPF rebels from the Ugandan army. This day which is celebrated on July 4th each year, has been cynically and abusively named the “Liberation Day” by the conquerors. In preparation of the commemoration of the "liberation" day's 15th anniversary, the Rwandan government has decided to honor, by decoration, some foreigners who substantially contributed to this so-called “liberation”.
By doing so the Kagame’s regime counts to honor personalities, whose actions have been directly or indirectly decisive during the conquest of power in Rwanda. These figures will obviously include nationals from some powerful western countries that have conceived and carried out the conquest of Rwanda by the Tutsi refugees.
Thus will be decorated Ugandans, Tanzanians, Burundians, Ethiopians and Somalis, Belgians, Americans (USA) and British (UK).
Beyond the individual profile of each fortunate candidate, I strongly believe that this symbolic action of Kagame is a tip of the hat to the home country of each candidate for its contribution to the restoration of the Tutsi hegemony in Rwanda. Of course, diplomatic constraints did not allow the dictator of Kigali to decorate the official representatives of these countries. It is through a few citizens of these countries that Kagame will express his gratitude for the assistance he received during his quest to power.
It is therefore interesting to examine the real motivations of each of these countries and the specific acts posed by them to support the conquest of Rwanda.
Uganda
It is well-known that that the rebellion that brought Yoweri Museveni to power in 1986 was mainly controlled by Tutsi officers of Rwandan origin. Museveni not only had the moral obligation to help his former comrades but also to get rid of them by creating a kind of protectorate regime over his tiny southern neighbor.
The implementation of this strategy was obvious. Several units of the Ugandan army invaded Rwanda on October 1, 1990. The Ugandan military bases served as back up bases of the so-called Tutsi rebellion (RPF). The RPF combatants retreated there after their military operations in Rwanda. The Ugandan government has allowed the RPF to gain supply in weapons and other war materials under its endorsement as a sovereign country. Until the conquest of the entire country, Uganda has provided technical and diplomatic support to the RPF whenever there was a crucial need.
Tanzania
To understand the implication of Tanzania along side with the RPF in the conquest of Rwanda, one must first have a look at the position of the undisputed leader of this country at that time. Julius Nyerere, who remained until his death in 1999 the
real strongman of Tanzania, had a dislike of Heads of State who came to power
through military coups in general and in particular towards Juvenal Habyarimana.
In addition, with regard to Rwanda and Burundi, he had a fixed “strange” position because he was convinced that Rwanda should go back to the Tutsis and the Hutus should be regrouped in Burundi! This is why he actively supported the conquest of Rwanda by Ugandan soldiers of Rwandan origin while protecting Burundian Hutu refugees in Tanzania. He even went on to become their sponsor in order to put pressure on the Tutsi regime in Burundi.
It is in this context that Tanzania, under the disguised neutrality (during the Arusha Peace Agreement negotiations in which it was a “facilitator”), was very active in imposing the RPF views. For instance, through the Organization of African Unity (OAU), whose Secretary General was Salim Ahmed Salim, a former Minister of Nyerere! As in Uganda, Tutsi elites from all jurisdictions in Tanzania have been supported and encouraged to join or support the conquest of Rwanda.
Burundi
The destabilization of Rwanda in 1990 was a boon to the mono-ethnic Tutsi in Burundi. This military regime was out of breath at that time. However, it saw the conquest of Rwanda by Tutsi elements from the Ugandan army as a life buoy and a strong warning signal to Hutus who dreamed about their emancipation any time soon.
Thus, the Burundi did not skimp on resources to mobilize in order to support the RPF war for the conquest of Rwanda. RPF recruits from Rwanda used to transit from Rwanda to Burundi before being shipped to Uganda. Rwandan Tutsi refugees living in Burundi at that time were all trained by the security services to support the RPF war.
The Tutsi refugee elites in Burundi have been allowed to do politics within the RPF governing body while enjoying the protection of Burundian government. Businessmen have also been mobilized to contribute to the war effort. Under high protection, young people (students) were massively sent to battle fields via Uganda.
Ethiopia (Somalia filigree)
Ethiopia was involved in the conquest of Rwanda because of two fantasies that were equally eccentric and destructive.
At that time, the current leader of Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi, had just seized power by force in Addis Ababa. He was presented by his American sponsors as one of the models of the ''new leaders'' that were crucially needed for Africa, just as his colleague Yoweri Museveni of Uganda. The Americans wanted then to extend these models throughout the region starting with Rwanda.
Another fantasy intended to make Ethiopians and Somalis believe that the Tutsi who will soon march on Kigali are their biological brothers hence the need support them in their struggle since their conquest would be another vital space in their possession.
This was concretely translated into action by sending several units of Ethiopian troops to occupy areas conquered by the RPF in May 1994. To cover up this scandal and cover one's tracks, the UN declared that the first contingent of UNAMIR II, which was due in August 1994, would be made up of Ethiopian troops. The announcement of the arrival of the UNAMIR II (the Ethiopian contingent) was made public several weeks after the Ethiopian troops were visible on the Rwandan soil without knowing when or how they had arrived.
The United States
At that time, the super power was eager to promote the generation of the so-called of “new leaders” from the jungle such as Museveni, Zenawi, John Garang, etc. and insisted that this move be spread throughout the African Great Lakes region. Marshal Mobutu of Zaire (now renamed DRC), the main ally of the Rwandan regime of Juvenal Habyarimana, was already convicted. Logically, the U.S. had to specifically support Museveni’s enterprise mostly due to the fact that his success would cheaply open access to a springboard that will make it possible to jump on Zaire.
The United States has honored these decisions by providing accelerated training to Tutsi officers within the Ugandan army before they are sent to the battle field. By its widespread influence every time the USA tipped the balance on the RPF side within all international forums, especially the United Nations, while pushing down the legitimate government of Rwanda.
Throughout the Rwandan civil war and especially since April 1994, the United States provided military intelligence to the RPF, which enabled it to accelerate its conquest. The United States had already positioned its elite troops (marines) in a neighboring country just days before the assassination of Habyarimana on April 6, 1994 (just in case ...!).
United Kingdom
With Museveni’s ascension to power in Uganda, the UK strongly believed to have discovered a “rare bird”! The UK would then support it in all of its enterprises. In addition if the move might help put an end to French influence in the region, that would be great. To implement such as strong commitment, the UK will host the RPF headquarters albeit financial (bank accounts) and social (families of RPF leaders) for the entire duration of the conquest.
Like the USA, Great Britain will use its influence to help pass RPF views to the large expense of the Rwandan government.
Belgium
Those who are aware of the Belgian politics know that this country has no foreign policy and has been this way since 1945. The motto in Belgian foreign policy is to align behind the United States positions. Concerning Rwanda, it was sufficient to the then Belgian government to realize that the U.S. was thrilling for the RPF to make puppy dog eyes at this movement.
In addition, the Belgo-Belgian policy had a considerable effect on the attitude of the Belgian authorities with regard to the Rwandan civil war. The Liberals who were in the opposition for decades took in charge RPF facts and causes to overwhelm the Socio-Christians in power supposed to support the Habyarimana’s regime.
Specifically, Belgium distinguished itself by a spectacular and inexplicable volte-face since the beginning of the war in 1990. Brussels became the official platform of the RPF. Prior cooperation agreements and/or commercial contracts were simply unilaterally terminated.
Conclusion
Up to date, all informed observers were convinced that the international conspiracy was the basis of the conquest of Rwanda but so far the regime that embodies this conquest, out of pride or political calculation, did not dare to admit it. Today, it is done.
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Thank you for adding to the conversation. But having studied the situation for myself, I also have to disagree with your conclusion.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Romeo Dalaire's book 'Shake Hands With the Devil'? If not, you may well be surprised to read his report (as the UN Field Commander of UNAMIR I and II) throughout that horrible period of history.
You have clearly presented an opinion piece, and you'll never hear me complain about that. But Dallaire himself has noted, though, that "It's absolutely essential that people realize that some people are fiddling with the books and passing themselves on as an authority. So it's all the more (important) that we are aware and that we study and that we comprehend what's happening.”"
What you have not considered in this piece is the global environment at the time of the Rwandan Genocide. Truth be told, it looks like the West was focused on the (seemingly) more important conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia. How can we tell? By following the money. Dallaire had UNAMIR reduced to just 270 personnel at the height of the Rwandan Genocide. Conversely, the UNPROFOR in Bosnia had nearly 39,000 personnel. Likewise, the Somali UNOSOM II force had had 28,000 personnel. That means the Rwandan force was not even 1% the size of the either of these operations.
So it would seems likely that a more shameful conclusion than what you have offered is true. The beautiful, small east-African nation of Rwanda only had "human capital" - as Dallaire was informed - and was simply not worth the West's efforts at the time.