Genocide in the Great Lakes: which genocide? whose genocide?

Lemarchand, RenΘ

article

Genocide in the Great Lakes: which genocide? whose genocide?

African studies review • 41 (1) • Published In 1998 • Pages: 3-16

By: Lemarchand, RenΘ.

Abstract
This article is concerned with the politics of genocide in the Great Lakes region. It shows that basic disagreements between Hutu and Tutsi about who committed genocide and why are traceable in part to the uncritical of the term genocide to describe just about any type of ethnic violence, in part to the selective sifting of the evidence with a view to exonerating one group and condemning the other. Although Hutu and Tutsi are both guilty of genocide, the tendency to substitute collective guilt for individual culpability in the planning and execution of the killings can only result in distortion of the facts. There will be no peace in the Great Lakes region unless one takes seriously the task of shedding light on the circumstances, the scale and the consequences of the genocide of Hutu by Tutsi in Burundi (1972), of Tutsi and Hutu by Hutu in Rwanda (1994) and of Hutu by Tutsi in Congo (1996-1997).

Warfare

Aftermath of combat

Inter-ethnic relations

Instigation of war

Peacemaking

External relations

Social relationships and groups