Shake Hands with the Devil

Dallaire fell in love with Rwanda as soon as he arrived. He met with the Rwandan diplomat to the UN, Jean-Damascène Bizimana, another ambassador Anatese Gasada, and the Rwandan ambassador to Uganda. Gasada was an opponent of Habyarimana’s regime and backed the transition to a full democracy. Dallaire also met with Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, nicknamed “Madame Agathe,” who was a political moderate in support of the Arusha Accords. Even at that time, there were “ominous rumblings of the extremist elements and [. . .] the presence of militias, which had inserted themselves into the youth wings of the various political parties, even the moderate ones” (59-60).

Dallaire was taken to see Paul Kagame, a Tutsi leader of the RPF, at a refugee camp. Other RPF leaders he encountered were Alexis Kanyarengwe, a Hutu who led the RPF, and Pasteur Bizimungu. The RPF was “unanimous in its support for Arusha” (66). While at the camp, Dallaire became “personally dedicated […] to bringing a UN peacekeeping mission to Rwanda” (64).

Next, Dallaire met the RGF, led by Major General Déogratias Nsabimana. Some of the RGF leaders wanted the peace to work out, but others still hated the RPF.