Joint Crisis: Rwandan Genocide
Chairs: Caroline Hillier ’18 and Rebecca Yang ’18
Rapporteurs: Thomas Teunissen ’19 & Betsy Hillier ’18
Dear Delegates,
Welcome to CAMUN 2017! We are Caroline Hillier and Rebecca Yang, and we will be your
chairs for the Joint Crisis committees on the Rwandan genocide. We are both juniors at Concord
Academy, and have been participating in Model UN since our freshman years. In addition to
being classmates, we have been roommates for two years now and are both international
students.
We thought this would be a really intriguing and exciting topic not only because of its historical
significance but also because we would like to see how delegates react to the various crises
throughout the committee. Our timeline starts on April 6, 1994, immediately after the death of
President Juvénal Habyarimana, and will be propelled forward chronologically by crises and
delegates’ responses to the crises and each other. As Joint Crisis committees, the interactions
between the two committees will be crucial for a successful, intense, and fun experience.
Therefore, we would encourage you to be creative within your position and party.
This background guide aims to provide an overview of the history and resources for further
research. While we try to cover the most important facts, it is imperative for you to do further
research in order to expand your knowledge on the topic. Sufficient preparation will not only
allow you to better engage with your fellow delegates but also maximize your enjoyment during
the conference. Position papers are strongly recommended but not required.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to email either of us at
[email protected]​ or ​[email protected]​. If you submit a
position paper by April 1st, we will write back with feedback before the conference. We look
forward to seeing you at CAMUN 2017!
Best,
Caroline Hillier ’18 and Rebecca Yang ’18, Chairs
JC: Rwandan Genocide
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Colonial Times and the Roots of Ethnic Tensions
Rwanda is a country located in central Africa with Kigali as its capital. Currently, Rwanda is the
most densely populated country in Africa and consists of three main ethnic groups: 84% Hutu,
15% Tutsi, and 1% Twa. Formerly a Belgian colony, Rwanda obtained its independence on July
1st, 1962. ​Three years before its independence, the Rwandan Revolution​ took place, which
transitioned the country from a Belgian colony with a Tutsi monarchy to a Hutu-dominated
republic. “Rwanda’s colonial period, during which the ruling Belgians favored the minority
Tutsis over the Hutus, exacerbated the tendency of the few to oppress the many, creating a
legacy of tension that exploded into violence even before Rwanda gained its independence.”1
During the revolution, a large number of Tutsis were either killed or driven out of the country.
This ethnic tension became an important factor leading to the Civil War in 1990, which was the
result of an invasion by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a rebel group formed by the children
of exiles from Uganda. 2
Rise of Hutu Power
Ethnically motivated violence continued in the years following Rwanda’s independence. In
1973, Major General Juvénal Habyarimana, a moderate Hutu, overthrew President Grégoire
Kayibanda and took control of the government. In 1975, he established the National
Revolutionary Movement for Development (MRND), becoming the only political party in the
country. Habyarimana was the sole leader of the Rwandan government for the next two decades,
as he was elected president under a new constitution ratified in 1978, and reelected in 1983 and
1988 when he ran as the sole candidate.3
In 1990, when the first RPF attacks happened in Rwanda, Hutu President Habyarimana was able
to repel them. However, as a result of these attacks, Hutu’s began using the racist phrase “Hutu
Power” to describe the racial superiority of Hutus over Tutsis. Tutsis could be easily identified
by the ID cards they carried, which made it easier to target them. Throughout the early 1990s,
racist propaganda permeated Rwanda and strongly influenced the people. “The radio was utilized
to not only list the location of specific Tutsis to be targeted, but to also justify the genocide.”4
One prominent example of radio propaganda would be the Radio Television Libre des Milles
Collines (RTLM), founded by those close to Habyarimana, which had the goal of uniting Hutus
against Tutsis. “The radio made the war immediate for people distant from the front: listeners
could hear the explosions of mortars being shot at RTLM. So lively was the wit of the
announcers that even wounded RPF soldiers listened to RTLM from their hospital beds. The
station carried not just the rhetoric of politicians but also the voice of the ordinary people who
History.com Staff. "The Rwandan Genocide." ​History.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
“The World Factbook: RWANDA." C
​ entral Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan. 2017. Web.
26 Jan. 2017.
3
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Juvenal Habyarimana." ​Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia
Britannica, Inc., 01 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
4
The Rwandan Genocide." ​United to End Genocide. United to End Genocide, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
1
2
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took time off from their work on the barriers to say hello to their families back home.”5 Radio
propaganda greatly contributed to the zealous racial discrimination in Rwanda.
Arusha Accord
Beginning on July 12, 1992, the international community intervened in the matter and started
supervising mediation between the government of Rwanda and the RPF. While the UN hoped
that these talks would lead to a new transitional government, the President’s party (MRND), the
opposition Hutu party (MDR) and the RPF were unwilling to concede power. Finally, “after a
full year of negotiations, compromises finally began to occur, and on August 4​th​, 1993, the
signing of a formal agreement occurred. The deal in general favored the RPF who was able to
take advantage of disagreements between the President’s party (MRND) and the MDR. Due to
this, President Habyarimana and his party stalled many of the appointments and many of the
cabinet positions, essentially crippling the agreement.”6 However, ethnic tensions ceased to fade,
and a final attempt to curb this issue led to renewed negotiations of a ceasefire in April 1993.​6
Present Day (April 6, 1994)
On April 6, 1994, the night the timelines of our committees begin, the plane that President
Juvénal Habyarimana and his counterpart Cyprien Ntaryamira of Burundi, both Hutus, were
traveling on was shot down, resulting in both of their deaths. Hutus claim that the RPF is to
blame, while others claim that Hutu extremists shot down the plane to show their discontent with
the recent moderate behavior of President Habyarimana, particularly his attempt at a ceasefire
and his agreement to the Arusha Accords, which was viewed as unacceptable by a number of
extremist Hutus. Despite disagreements about who the perpetrator was, this action and the death
of a national figure will likely prove to have serious repercussions among the ethnic groups.7
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) is a political and military movement led by Paul Kagame
that consists mainly of exiles in Uganda, with most party leaders being Tutsi refugees. The RPF
started their attack on the Hutu-majority Rwandan government on October 1, 1990. This attack
led to an escalation of ethnic tension, with all Tutsis being considered potential accomplices by
Hutu extremists, and Hutu moderates being labeled as traitors. The Arusha peace agreements
were designed to ease tensions between the majority Hutu government and the RPF; however, in
the wake of President Juvénal Habyarimana’s death, this agreement will no longer hold.
Delegates, it is your job as members of the RPF to decide how you will respond to actions
perpetrated by the Hutu-led government, the MRND, in the wake of the president’s death. You
“​The Organization (HRW Report - Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda, March 1999)." ​The
Organization (HRW Report - Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda, March 1999). Human Rights
Watch, 8 Nov. 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
6
Yarbrough, Matthew, and Connor Sweetnam. "United Nations Security Council Special Session: Rwanda
Genocide, 1994." ​University of Georgia Model United Nations. UGMUN, n.d. Web.
7
"Rwanda Genocide: 100 Days of Slaughter." ​BBC News. BBC, 07 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
5
JC: Rwandan Genocide
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must outline potential solutions to protect the interests of our party in these trying times, which
you shall present to your chair, Paul Kagame.8
National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (​MRND)
The National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND) is the current
political party in power in Rwanda, and it used to be the only one until the legalization of other
political parties in 1991. The MRND is dominated by Hutus, thus maintaining opposition to the
Tutsi-led RPF. However, other parties with similar but more extreme hostile views towards the
Tutsis, such as the Republican Democratic Movement (MDR) and the Coalition for the Defense
of the Republic (CDR), are also active and play crucial roles in the current situation. Thus,
delegates, it is your responsibility as members of the MRND to perform your duties as
Tutsi-opponents and respond to the actions by the RMF. You might consider how you can
interact with the other political parties in the country, such as the MDR and the CDR, and
subsequently their propaganda power and militia. As propaganda serves an especially important
role at this moment, you should consider incorporating the media, mainly in the forms of radio,
magazines & newspapers. Be creative with your role and present your ideas to your chair,
Théodore Sindikubwabo, who is the current president installed after the assassination of
President Habyarimana.
Committee Members
Position
Committee
Théodore Sindikubwabo (Chair)
Leader of the The National Republican Movement
for Democracy and Development (MRND)
Justin Mugenzi
MRND
Octavien Ngenzi
MRND
Édouard Karemera
MRND
Mathieu Ngirumpatse
MRND
André Rwamakuba
MRND
Théoneste Bagosora
MRND
Augustin Bizimungu
MRND
Robert Kajuga
MRND
8
"Rwanda, Genocide, Hutu, Tutsi, Mass Execution, Ethnic Cleansing, Massacre, Human Rights, Victim
Remembrance, Education, Africa." ​United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
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Georges Rutaganda
MRND
Jérôme Bicamumpaka
MRND
André Ntagerura
MRND
Augustin Bizimana
MRND
Anatole Nsengiyumva
MRND
Callixte Kalimanzira
MRND
Pierre-Célestin Rwigema
MRND
Pauline Nyiramasuhuko
MRND
Jean Kambanda
MRND
François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye
MRND
Tharcisse Renzaho
MRND
Aloys Ntabakuze
MRND
Protais Mpiranya
MRND
Paul Kagame (Chair)
Leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)
Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi
RPF
Theogene Rudasingwa
RPF
James Kabarebe
RPF
André Kameya
RPF
Dan Munyuza
RPF
Emmanuel Gasana
RPF
Jack Nziza
RPF
Abdul Ruzibiza
RPF
Pasteur Bizimungu
RPF
Sam Kaka
RPF
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Fred Ibingira
RPF
Karenzi Karake
RPF
Patrick Nyamvumba
RPF
Charles Kayonga
RPF
Patrick Karegeya
RPF
Faustin Twagiramungu
RPF
Jeannette Kagame
RPF
Kayumba Nyamwasa
RPF
Gerald Gahima
RPF
Bibliography
"The Organization (HRW Report - Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda, March 1999)." ​The
Organization (HRW Report - Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda, March 1999). Human
Rights Watch, 8 Nov. 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
(​https://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/rwanda/Geno4-7-03.htm​)
2. Yarbrough, Matthew, and Connor Sweetnam. "United Nations Security Council Special Session: Rwanda
Genocide, 1994." ​University of Georgia Model United Nations. UGMUN, n.d.
Web.(​www.ugamunc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Rwandan-Genocide-Final.docx​)
3. "Rwanda Genocide: 100 Days of Slaughter." ​BBC News. BBC, 07 Apr. 2014. Web. 26 Jan.
2017.(​http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26875506​)
4. "Rwanda, Genocide, Hutu, Tutsi, Mass Execution, Ethnic Cleansing, Massacre, Human Rights, Victim
Remembrance, Education, Africa." ​United Nations. United Nations, n.d. Web. 26 Jan.
2017.(​http://www.un.org/en/preventgenocide/rwanda/education/rwandagenocide.shtml​)
5. Karabayinga, Jerome. "Jerome Karabayinga." ​Home. AfroAmerica Network, 18 Sept. 2016. Web. 26
Jan.2017.(​http://www.afroamerica.net/index.php/world/2015-10-18-02-09-16/601-rwandan-patriotic-front-r
pf-military-leaders-committed-genocide-against-hutu-says-former-rpf-top-leader-dr-theogene-rudasingwa​)
6. History.com Staff. "The Rwandan Genocide." H
​ istory.com. A&E Television Networks, 2009. Web. 26 Jan.
2017. (​http://www.history.com/topics/rwandan-genocide​)
7. "The World Factbook: RWANDA." ​Central Intelligence Agency. Central Intelligence Agency, 12 Jan.
2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017. (​https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rw.html​)
8. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Juvenal Habyarimana." ​Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia
Britannica, Inc., 01 Mar. 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
(​https://www.britannica.com/biography/Juvenal-Habyarimana​)
9. "The Rwandan Genocide." ​United to End Genocide. United to End Genocide, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.
(​http://endgenocide.org/learn/past-genocides/the-rwandan-genocide/​)
10. "The U.S. and the Genocide in Rwanda 1994: Evidence of Inaction." ​National Security Archive. National
Security Archive, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.(​http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB53/)
1.
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