“…if the people in Rwanda ever needed help, now was the time…”

Nearly 23 years after the occurrence of the genocide in Rwanda, Paul Kagame, the leader of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), who played a crucial role in fighting the extremist Hutus and halting the genocide against the Tutsis, was re-elected for a third presidential term in August 2017. Despite the infamous event occurring 20 years ago, the trials of those involved in committing the crimes and the subsequent rebuilding of the state have remained in the spectrum of international community. The occasion therefore provides an opportunity to revisit a documentary on the genocide in Rwanda (2004) that was released to mark its 10th anniversary and to recount the lessons to be learnt about dealing with violent conflicts that take a huge humanitarian toll. Directed by Greg Barker, the intricate nature, detailed script-writing and nuanced understanding of the country made the film’s audience revisit, re-examine and re-evaluate the underpinnings and involvement of key actors in this conflict.

Ghosts of Rwanda (2004)

“Films can never be the primary source in this quest for knowledge about International Relations, it (sic) can, however, be a valuable adjunct”.

This quotation by Robert W. Gregg provides another perspective to study, understand and analyse the field of international relations and politics. Movies, visuals and documentaries have become an adjunct and an indispensable element of the realm of international relations. They depict a nuanced version of the on-going politics and situations engulfing and encapsulating different concerns in the world. Hence, the profound impact of cinema on the audience cannot be undermined.

Ghosts of Rwanda (2004) is a widely viewed, detailed documentary and has also been considered as one of the top documentary films. It not only provides a detailed background and political situation of the conflict but also enlists the diverse range of actors who denied support (particularly the international organisations like the United Nations), those who wanted to help but couldn’t (like many diplomats and members from international community) and those who stayed in Rwanda despite any organisational support (like many workers from humanitarian assistance organizations and NGOs). The title is an apt description that captures the guilt and failure which haunts the prestigious, pristine and lustrous corridors of United Nations (UN). UN, an organisation made to preserve and promote world peace and harmony witnessed the dismantling of its rubric and simultaneously, its virtues, when it stood as an onlooker of the genocide in Rwanda. The title in a certain way remains symbolic and a reminder of how various states and institutions still bear the cost and burden of inadequacy and absence of help which resulted in many lives and livelihoods being dismantled and destroyed. Hence, the quotation by Kofi Annan, the then Secretary General of United Nations from the film “(W)e acted wrongly and we acted inadequately…” explains how the fear of the past pertaining to what had happened in Mogadishu, Somalia wherein 19 US soldiers died and their bodies was deformed and dragged all across the city, made the UN very apprehensive of participating or acting in Rwanda. In a certain way, Ghosts of Rwanda attempts to present the genocide of Rwanda emphasising on the role and interplay of local identity, mass violence and international community. The documentary remains a stand-alone and is widely appreciated due to its investigative nature, its documentation of first-hand account of witnesses and culprits and for presenting an unbiased perspective.

The documentary begins with the imagery of corpse of men, women and children fluttered and lying in a completely chaotic manner like carcasses. This imagery showcasing and highlighting the ridiculed nature and existence of human lives who are caught in conflict was immediately contrasted with the posh room and grandeur of United Nations where the conference room of General Assembly presenting another a completely different face life; the existing and increasing divides of wealth, power and politics. The documentary in a conscious manner tries to incorporate diverse opinions by capturing and highlighting distinct identities as that of the affected, the killers, the perspective of those nations who turned away during the zenith of violence as well as of those assistance provides, NGOs and civil society who remained on the group with or without any support and hope of future relief or assistance. Hence, it provides an amalgamated yet nuanced description of what went wrong and continued despite international actors and institutions being informed and updated. It is interesting to notice and observe the disappointment and frustration amongst those providing humanitarian assistance at their organisational politics and simultaneously, the agitation and regret felt by those who had to evacuate themselves during the moment of crisis due to inadequate support and backing. Hence, despite being differently involved and absorbed in relief and rescue operation, these people narrated how they were still haunted by the Ghosts of Rwanda.

The conflict in Rwanda emerged from the rising differences between the two communities of Hutus and Tutsis. The Tutsi constituted to be the minority community and were still living a repressed livelihood and had the status of being the refugees. The heightened subjugation and suppression by the majoritarian community of Hutus resulted or ignited the rebellious revolt. The rebellion started with targeted killing and extended up to a deliberate aim and intent of committing genocide. The UN initially had sent the peacekeepers on the mission to Rwanda to mitigate conflict and initiate peace processes. But the peacekeeping troops substantially lacked organisational support as they were sent empty handed with limited information of the nature of the conflict, parties involved and despite repeated request were not adequately provided with intelligence capabilities. To a certain extent, they were sent to the field ill equipped. Simultaneously, UN was repeatedly provided with regular information from the field on the heightened crisis entailing rampant killing of Tutsis as well as of the Belgian soldiers who were a part of the delegation. However, the then Secretary-General, Kofi Annan was advised by his own staff ,consultants and researchers to primarily observe the situation and was advised to share information with the government involved, which had close links with the Hutu extremist. These actions were largely motivated with the fear of the past which purloined the present necessity to strive.

Before the Rwanda conflict broke out, a tragic incident took place in Mogadishu, Somalia, wherein 18 Black Hawks were shot down resulting in death of 18 American soldiers on field during the mission. This incident forced the administration of United States of America to change perspective on peacekeeping and conflict transformation in Africa. Hence, the fear of what happened in Mogadishu made the USA and UN very apprehensive from participating in any situation of violence in Africa. However, the situation continued to worsen in Rwanda and reached a peak with the killing of the then acting Prime Minister Madame Agathe and with the taking of 10 Belgian peacekeepers as hostage. Despite such developments, there were no official statements released by the UN and the instructions to the peacekeepers remained and prevailed as that of tightening the rule of engagements, non-intervention and avoiding armed confrontation or conflict in every situation.

Another startling factor which was explained in detail in the movie was the lack of adequate response, protection, assurance and safety provided to the peacekeepers involved in the situation on the ground. For instance, despite the hostage situation of Belgian peacekeepers which culminated in their killing, no action or statement or change in policy was undertaken by the office of United Nations. However, in personal capacities, many aid workers and peacekeepers tried to mitigate the situation with much enthusiasm, hope, optimism and belief of making a difference by contributing and attempting to save even one life. Just like the Vietnamese war, the situation in Rwanda was well documented by several journalists who had come along with the Belgian and French paratroopers to record and archive the ongoing suffering of the masses as well as the conflict. It was startling to note how these journalists were being approached and begged for rescue and security by the affected people. The Rwandan genocide also revitalised the orientalist debate of cultural politics as for the white diplomats and expatriates the exit from the sites of struggle was very swift and rapid as the countries they were representing had ensured them security and protection by sending military forces to safely bring them back home. However, no rescue operations were organized for any Tutsis who were being killed and massacred brutally. Hence, such a situation depicted the white man’s supremacy as well as a white man’s burden.

Conclusion

Hence, the documentary highlights and emphasises on different aspects and factors which marked the building of the conflict and contributed in its heightening. The media, visual and means of mass communication have often been criticised for presenting a biased and skewed viewpoint on the conflict. However, the power of documentaries like the Ghosts of Rwanda which present before the audiences the unpalatable realities of the world compels the international community to ponder, discuss and accept the need for change in its institutions and their ways of working. The release of the documentary became a moment of unfolding of the pristine rubric of United Nations, especially of its peacekeeping mandates, which were discriminatory and caught in power struggles.

* Ms. Priyal Pandey is Masters Candidate at Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva and has been Intern, ALACUN Centre, IDSA.