Case Study: Rwanda Genocide Essay

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Case Study: Rwanda
The conflict in Rwanda is probably the most well known and documented case of genocide since the holocaust. Through years of discrimination based on ethnic and class based differences, the population of Rwanda has been constantly entrenched in periods of fighting, refuge and genocide. In the following essay we will explore the background of the conflict. Specifically the historical implications, the parties involved the reasons for the fighting and the result of conflict. Next we will try to investigate some of the theories related to the conflict and discuss views of prominent authors who have attempted to define the reasoning behind this most incomprehensible conflict.
Historical Background
The origin of the

The RPF’s aim was to take back power from the Hutu majority who usurped them, and overthrow the Habyarimana regime. The RPF had support from the Ugandan government and military as many of the Tutsi refugees fought in their independence during the 80’s (Rwanda, 2008). In 1990 the RPF invaded Rwanda from Uganda and this intrastate conflict eventually led to an agreement from Habyarimana for a power sharing agreement.
In August 1993, Habyarimana accepted an internationally-mediated peace treaty in the Tanzanian town of Arusha. This treaty was to grant the RPF a share of political power and a military presence in the capital, Kigali (Rwanda, 2008). Though the peace process seemed to be underway there were many in Habyarimana’s government who did not want to accept the power sharing agreement. Some of these dissenters, many of which were high-level government officials and military personnel, began to devise their own solution to the 'Tutsi problem'. On April 6, 1994, President Habyarimana's plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile as it approached Kigali airport (Rwanda, 2008). Though the assassination has never been confirmed to have been perpetrated by the dissenters in the Hutu party, the speed with which the genocide was subsequently launched strongly suggests this was the case.
After the downing of President Habyarimana’s plane, genocide broke out in Rwanda. Right