From Africa Recovery, Vol.14#2 (July 2000), Briefs page

OAU commission: Rwanda genocide was "preventable"

An international commission investigating the 1994 slaughter of over 800,000 people in Rwanda issued a report on 7 July describing the genocide as "preventable" and condemning the UN Security Council for refusing to intervene. The study, initiated by the Organization of African Unity, denounced France for support of the ethnic Hutu-dominated government responsible for the murders and for aiding the "genocidaires'" escape from Rwanda after their defeat by Tutsi guerrillas. The US was blamed for blocking international intervention: "The US made sure that no such force would ever reach Rwanda even after it was known beyond question" that genocide was occurring.

Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters on 7 July Mr. Stephen Lewis, a panel member and the former Canadian ambassador to the UN, said Rwanda deserves massive assistance, "particularly from those countries which betrayed Rwanda when it needed the world most."

The seven-member commission, chaired by former Botswana President Ketumile Masire (see Africa Recovery, August 1998), also singled out Belgium, the UN Secretariat and the Roman Catholic Church for condemnation. The report, Rwanda: the Preventable Genocide, is available on-line at <www.oau-oua.org>. It follows the 15 December 1999, release of an independent study requested by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, on the UN's failed response to the killings.

[Back to index] [To Volume14#2 -- full graphics]

Material from this article may be freely reproduced, with attribution to "Africa Recovery, United Nations".
We would appreciate a copy of the reproduction.

Africa Recovery
Room S-931
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA

Tel: (212) 963-6857
Fax: (212) 963-4556
Email: africa_recovery@un.org

Website: www.africarecovery.org
Contact us by email: africa_recovery@un.org