UNAMIR and the protection of civilian in Rwanda in 1994: Scope and Limits

Abstract

This research titled “UNAMIR and the protection of civilian in Rwanda in 1994” has the general objective to examine the contribution of UNAMIR and the protection of civilian in Rwanda in 1994. This objective is supported by specific objectives, namely (1) to Describe and analyze the mandate of UNAMIR in Rwanda, (2) to identify whether UNAMIR has or not achieved its missions to protect civilians and (3) to examine the challenges pertaining to the then context and the way it affected the work of UNAMIR. In order to achieve these objectives, the research methodology was used notably the interview and desk review for data collection. Findings revealed that the UNAMIR mandate was not clear in regard with the protection of the civilians. In addition, it appears that the mandate was not in favour of ordinary people because its troops were not allowed to use their weapons. Furthermore, the mandate given to a peacekeeping operation is usually the result of diplomatic negotiation and compromise, and may not always meet expectations - particularly those of the host country. Concerning the success or failure of UNAMIR in Rwanda, findings show that the UN had totally failed to understand the situation on the ground and had disregarded the reports of many commentators. The reasons of failure mentioned by the study participants were that UNAMIR numbers were small compared to the number of troops they were required to contain. For the existence of UNAMIR achievements or failure in Rwanda, findings reveal that UNAMIR did not achieve its mission. This failure is under different factors. In fact, the scope of the UNAMIR mandate was too broad for the size of force deployed. According to the challenges encountered by UNAMIR, findings revealed that the UNAMIR achievement or failure revealed that it did not fulfill its mandate. Constraints inherent to the UN system were particularly subject to frustrations of UNAMIR commanders and staff members, since they were confronted with them on a daily basis. The main challenges highlighted by findings are UN bureaucracy & hierarchy, UN military structure, Human resource constraints, material resource constraints, lack of strategy to protect civilians and lack of willingness and preparedness to protect. The researcher concluded that UNAMIR mandate was not fulfilled and then it did not achieve any objective related to the civilians‟ protection due to enormous challenges encountered. The UN should avoid the bureaucratic system in terms of decision making related to the human rights protection because the bureaucracy can slow the safeguard and protection of civilians because the heavy top-down structure complicates and impede the procedures.