Conflict & Intervention: Kosovo & Rwanda

Rwanda (1990-1998): 

• Causes of Conflict: Ethnic tensions in Rwanda, creation of the Hutu Power Movement and the Interahamwe, role of the media, economic causes, the colonial legacy, the Rwandan Civil War, the assassination of President Habyarimana 

  • Colonial Legacy: The Belgian colonial administration favored the Tutsi minority over the Hutu majority, leading to deep-seated resentment among the Hutus. This favoritism created a social hierarchy that persisted even after Rwanda gained independence in 1962. 

  • Political Struggles: After independence, political power shifted to the Hutus, which led to discrimination against Tutis. The Hutu-led government implemented policies that marginalized Tutis, resulting in increasing. 

  • Civil War: In 1990, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), mainly composed of Tutsi exiles, launched an invasion from Uganda, aiming to overthrow the Hutu government. This invasion ignited a civil war, exacerbating ethnic divisions. 

  • Propaganda and Misinformation: The Hutu government used propaganda to dehumanize Tutis, portraying them as enemies of the state. This rhetoric fueled hatred and justified violence against Tutis. 

  • Economic Factors: Economic decline in the late 1980s, including food shortages and unemployment, intensified social frustrations. The government often scapegoated Tutus for these issues, further inflaming tensions. 

• These factors culminated in the Rwandan Genocide in 1994

• Course and Intervention: Actions of the Rwandan Patriotic Front and Rwandan Government, role of the media, the nature of the genocide and other crimes against humanity, response of the international community- the United Nations, the role of the US/France/Belgium, reasons for inaction

• Impact: Social impact, the refugee crisis, justice and reconciliation, establishment of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, political and economic impact, continued warfare in the region

Kosovo (Late 1990s): 

• Ethnic tensions between Albanian majority & the Serb minority. The region had a long history of ethnic strife, but tensions escalated dramatically in the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly after the breakup of Yugoslavia. 

  • In 1998, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) began to fight for the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, leading to a violent crackdown by the Serbian government. The situation deteriorated into widespread human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing against the Albanian population. 

• The international community intervened in 1999, primarily through NATO, which conducted a bombing campaign against Serbian forces to the humanitarian crisis. This military intervention was controversial, as it was conducted without the approval of the United Security Council. 

• After the intervention, Kosovo was placed under UN Administration, and in 2008, it declared independence from Serbia. The status of Kosovo remains a contentious issue, with some countries recognizing its independence while others, including Serbia, do not. The conflict and subsequent intervention highlight the complexities of ethnic nationalism, international law,  and humanitarian intervention.