Rwandan Genocide Essay Example

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Within a span of just 100 days, the Hutu people massacred somewhere between 80,000 to 1,000,000 individuals, making it a highly charged and racially motivated genocide that has significant relevance to contemporary history. The war in Rwanda persisted for a little over three months, after which the national army and Hutu Militias were defeated by the RPF, who were working out of Northern Rwanda and Uganda. Fearing punishment from the Tutsi, a large number of Hutu individuals fled to various countries, while some returned with extremist groups similar to those that had earlier launched attacks. Several Hutus continue to reside in the Congo to date.

Throughout the specified period, the government was under the control of RPF. Rwanda conducted presidential and legislative elections in 2003 while in 2009, a collaboration between the Congo Army and Rwanda Army occurred to prevent extremist activities. Participation in the Commonwealth also took place recently. However, during this time, Western nations were uncooperative and uninformed about events in Rwanda. For example, the Clinton Administration failed to acknowledge the full extent of genocide in Rwanda and did not offer any assistance.

Although Jean-Pierre had alerted UN officials about the Hutus' plans three months prior to the attacks, many individuals from America and the West were ignorant of the Rwandans' suffering. It took nearly ten years after the occurrence with films like "Hotel Rwanda" for people to comprehend the atrocity that happened. Regrettably, despite being informed about it, Western countries decided to overlook Rwanda's distress.

The UN was tasked with the duty of ensuring peace and preventing aggression towards Hutus upon their arrival. Despite minimal support and sympathy from Western nations,

Rwandans were able to successfully resolve the crisis and halt genocide without any significant aid. Hollywood's "Hotel Rwanda" was based on Paul Rusesabagina's real-life experience, where he utilized connections and bribes to save his wife, children, and 1268 Tutsi refugees who had ties with Tutsis. He kept his hotel's actions concealed by providing bribes to local Hutu military leaders.

The Interahamwe provided Paul with supplies, including drinks and food, despite being responsible for killing and raping many Tutsis. They believed that Paul was running a 4-star hotel and thus left him mostly alone. However, the UN peacekeeping team, led by Lt. General Romeo Dallaire, did not provide Paul with significant assistance.

Attempting to maintain peace, he was unsuccessful, and consequently, expelled all Europeans who were lodging in the hotel. Along with the Europeans, an American news team who had arrived to report on the attack also left, abandoning those who were trapped. This resulted in a harrowing situation where the Caucasians deserted the Rwandan people, leaving them to seemingly face certain death. The General and the News crew were disturbed as they realized the magnitude of the danger Paul and his hotel were facing. The film depicts Paul's management of the hotel amidst chaotic circumstances.

During the invasion at the hotel, the protagonist's primary concern was the safety of his family. Fortunately, both he and his loved ones were rescued alongside other hotel guests by the United Nations, who agreed to exchange them for Hutu soldiers. Despite being relocated to a camp and ultimately sent out of their home country, the protagonist and his family survived. The story was so remarkable it demanded to be adapted into

a movie, especially considering its authenticity. The film effectively conveyed the horror experienced by a million Tutsis.

By showcasing authentic video footage of hostage situations and murders, the movie effectively increased American awareness. It shed light on the Rwandan Genocide, detailing actual events and highlighting America's neglect to classify it as a genocide. The film served as an educational tool for many people, informing them about this catastrophic event and contributing to efforts aimed at addressing it.

Despite the occurrence of various genocides throughout history, the Rwandan Genocide stands out as a unique and devastating account of Hutu-Tutsi conflict. This event took place in recent times and may not be familiar to all. It exposed both deliberate and accidental neglect from Western countries during Rwanda's period of turmoil. The incident served as a reminder for many individuals about the significance of better communication and efforts towards preventing comparable catastrophes from recurring in future.