Rwandan Genocide First Congo War

a rwandan refugee camp in zaire, 1994.

the deciding event in precipitating war genocide in neighbouring rwanda in 1994, sparked mass exodus of refugees known great lakes refugee crisis. during 100-day genocide, hundreds of thousands of tutsis , sympathizers massacred @ hands of predominantly hutu aggressors. genocide ended when hutu government in kigali overthrown tutsi-dominated rwandan patriotic front (rpf).

of fled rwanda during crisis, 1.5 million settled in eastern zaire. these refugees included tutsi fled hutu génocidaires 1 million hutus fled tutsi rpf s subsequent retaliation. prominent among latter group génocidaires themselves, such elements of former rwandan army, forces armées rwandaises (far), , independent hutu extremist groups known interahamwe. often, these hutu forces allied local mai mai militias, granted them access mines , weapons. though these self-defense organizations, became aggressors.

the hutu set camps in eastern zaire attacked both newly arrived rwandan tutsi banyamulenge , banyarwanda. these attacks cause of 1 hundred deaths month during first half of 1996. furthermore, newly arrived militants intent on returning power in rwanda , began launching attacks against new regime in kigali, represented serious security threat infant state. not mobutu government incapable of controlling former génocidaires mentioned reasons supported them in training , supplying invasion of rwanda, forcing kigali act.