“The 1994 Rwandan genocide has been described as “the most intimate and effective in recent memory”. Between 800 000 and 1 000 000 people were killed in less than three months – the vast majority in face-to-face slaughter, with machetes and clubs. A further two million people were displaced internally and two million more became refugees, mostly in neighbouring countries. With violence consuming the country, the threat of impunity prevailed, necessitating a complete overhaul of the criminal justice system. Most educated
people and professional cadres were either dead or in exile, and the economy depleted. The physical and psychological needs of a traumatised population had to be met, and enemies, citizens of the same country, were compelled to find a way to co-exist. The minority Tutsi fear that democracy will
lead to Hutu domination. Some of the Hutu majority feel marginalised in post conflict
Rwandan society, dominated by a Tutsi-led government. Many of those responsible for the genocide are in exile, a fact which contributes to continuing tension on Rwanda’s borders particularly with the DRC, and poses a threat to Rwanda’s internal security.”
