Shake Hands with the Devil

The UN watered down Dallaire’s plan for UNAMIR 2 and released it as Resolution 918, which was “vague on the genocide and the role the force should play in stopping it” (374). Even so, the member states of the UN did not send troops to reinforce UNAMIR, with the United States insisting that “African security problems should be solved by African troops” (374). While some African nations were willing to help, they lacked the logistics needed to deploy their own soldiers. The UN also refused Dallaire’s request to shut down RTLM through either jamming its signal or with air strikes. The United States and the UK only provided UNAMIR 2 with antiquated vehicles that quickly broke down. Still, Dallaire continued efforts to transport survivors from the Hôtel de Mille Collines and other refugees to safety.

The RTLM was explicitly calling for Dallaire’s assassination because of his efforts to help Tutsis trapped on RGF territory and the lie that he was planning to export orphans from Rwanda. Meanwhile, Dallaire found a recording of a meeting between Colonel Bagosora and humanitarian workers which served as proof that Bagosora was involved in directing the “genocidal militia” (386).

The RPF occupied Kigali, which “had become a ghost town” (388).