How Did The United Nations Intervention In Peace-Keeping Operations In Rwanda?
The United Nations operations in Rwanda
The United Nations efforts in peace-keeping operations in Rwanda was further hindered by the decision made amongst the Belgian government and Security Council to withdraw the remainder of the 450 Belgian soldiers, whom were members of the United Nations assistance mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), from Rwanda. (Melvern, 34) This decision potentially put the lives of innocent civilians whom the peacekeepers were protecting at risk, as the tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi continued to increase. As soon as the last of the Belgian troops left Rwanda, the civilians mostly Tutsi, protected by the Belgian soldiers in schools and churches, were brutally murdered. However, the peacekeepers stationed at UN sites in Rwanda, were ordered not to take effective steps to intervene. As UNAMIR operations was under the chapter VI mandate which did not authorise the use of force from the UN, as rebels ran rampages on innocent civilian’s lives. (Melvern, 40) Thus, peacekeepers were restrained by the politics of the situation and could not take further action. …show more content…
(Dallaire, 179) The fax further stated that the Hutu militia had the ability to kill 1,000 Tutsis in 20 minutes, leading to the extermination of the Tutsis. (Melvern, 4) Dallaire had requested permission for the protection of the informant and his family. Kofi Annan, head of United Nations peacekeeping operations, repeatedly prevented the operation until a decision was made. Annan did prevented the possible actions, (Dallaire, 46) even as genocide had started and knowing of the situation, despite having the authority for
The United Nations efforts in peace-keeping operations in Rwanda was further hindered by the decision made amongst the Belgian government and Security Council to withdraw the remainder of the 450 Belgian soldiers, whom were members of the United Nations assistance mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), from Rwanda. (Melvern, 34) This decision potentially put the lives of innocent civilians whom the peacekeepers were protecting at risk, as the tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi continued to increase. As soon as the last of the Belgian troops left Rwanda, the civilians mostly Tutsi, protected by the Belgian soldiers in schools and churches, were brutally murdered. However, the peacekeepers stationed at UN sites in Rwanda, were ordered not to take effective steps to intervene. As UNAMIR operations was under the chapter VI mandate which did not authorise the use of force from the UN, as rebels ran rampages on innocent civilian’s lives. (Melvern, 40) Thus, peacekeepers were restrained by the politics of the situation and could not take further action. …show more content…
(Dallaire, 179) The fax further stated that the Hutu militia had the ability to kill 1,000 Tutsis in 20 minutes, leading to the extermination of the Tutsis. (Melvern, 4) Dallaire had requested permission for the protection of the informant and his family. Kofi Annan, head of United Nations peacekeeping operations, repeatedly prevented the operation until a decision was made. Annan did prevented the possible actions, (Dallaire, 46) even as genocide had started and knowing of the situation, despite having the authority for