article

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

African studies review41 (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).
Subjects
Warfare
Aftermath of combat
Inter-ethnic relations
Instigation of war
Peacemaking
External relations
Social relationships and groups
Political parties
Political movements
Elections
Chief executive
Traditional history
History
culture
Barundi
HRAF PubDate
2010
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Central Africa
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Political Scientist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem; 2009
Field Date
no date
Coverage Date
1971-1996
Coverage Place
Burundi
Notes
RenT Lemarchand
Includes bibliographical references (p. 14)
LCCN
77612664
LCSH
Rundi (African people)