Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere, the former president of Tanzania, once said, "The world is tired of those who say it is impossible." This statement resonates deeply as we examine the tragic failure of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) in 1994.
On October 5th, 1993, the UN Security Council established UNAMIR with the noble aim of fostering peace and stability in Rwanda during a tumultuous period of creating Broad Based Transitional Institutions and formation of the National Army. However, despite its mandate permitting the use of force for self-defence and to prevent atrocities, UNAMIR's failure during the genocide against Tutsi, remains a dark stain on the history of international peacekeeping, a stark illustration of Nyerere's point.
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The mandate granted to UNAMIR provided clear guidelines for the use of force, allowing peacekeepers to intervene when lives were at risk. Paragraph 17 of UNAMIR's Rules of Engagement emphasized the obligation to halt ethnically or politically motivated violence and prevent crimes against humanity. Yet, during the genocide against the Tutsi in April 1994, UNAMIR largely failed to fulfill its mandate.
General Romeo Dallaire, the force commander of UNAMIR, repeatedly warned of the impending genocide. One good example is Dallaire's Fax to the UN-Peace keeping department on 11th January 1994 informing them about clear plans to exterminate Tutsis. However, his warnings fell on deaf ears in the UN's New York headquarters, rendering UNAMIR, in the words of some, "Under No Actual Mandate Involving Relief."
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The shortcomings of UNAMIR were not due to the inadequacy of its mandate, but rather the misjudgments and indifference of politicians in New York. Michael Barnett, in his book "Eye Witness to Genocide: The United Nations and Rwanda," sheds light on the role of politicians and bureaucrats in exacerbating the crisis, describing them as "dithering and spineless--who answered the crime of genocide with silence and shibboleth of concern."
Ultimately, this emboldened the genocidaires through their inaction. He says, "the sum total of their actions, behavior, and mannerism reinforced a singular truth: the genocidaires had bet correctly that the international community would not lift a finger to stop their murderous plan."
Barnett's observations paint a picture of diplomatic paralysis and moral bankruptcy within the international community. While some individuals attempted to fulfill their duties, others engaged in empty rhetoric and shallow gestures, offering hollow resolutions and false promises that allowed the genocidaires to operate with impunity.
The international community's failure to intervene effectively in Rwanda underscores the limitations of peacekeeping operations when political will is lacking. Despite having the authority to use force to prevent atrocities, UNAMIR was hamstrung by the indifference and indecision of those responsible for its oversight. The consequences were devastating, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost.
In the aftermath of the genocide against Tutsi in Rwanda, calls for reform within the United Nations emerged to prevent similar tragedies. Efforts were made to improve early warning systems, strengthen mandates for peacekeeping missions, and enhance coordination between the UN and other international actors. However, the legacy of Rwanda serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of political indifference and the need for collective action to prevent mass atrocities.
Despite the lessons learned from Rwanda, the international community continues to face challenges in responding effectively to humanitarian crises and conflicts. The failure of UNAMIR serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of inaction and the importance of political leadership in addressing global challenges. As Mwalimu Nyerere emphasized, the world cannot afford to be tired of fighting for what is right. We must learn from past mistakes and act with unwavering resolve to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.