French Pullout from Gikongoro Sparks Exodus of Frightened Hutus

Strategic Insights -

As the French completed their early-morning handover to Ghanaian United Nations peacekeepers, thousands of Hutu refugees set off on a long trek west, fearing retribution from the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). The French, who had promised to protect the civilian population, were met with a massive no-confidence vote as they left the protection zone. The rapid exodus represents a significant challenge to the UN assistance mission in Rwanda, with 20,000 Hutus leaving the Gikongoro area in just five days.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 20,000 Hutus have fled the Gikongoro area in just five days, with thousands more expected to leave.
  • The French pullout has sparked widespread fear among Hutus, who believe they will be targeted by the RPF.
  • The Ghanaian UN peacekeepers, despite their best efforts, are struggling to win the trust of the local population.
  • The RPF government in Kigali has offered assurances of safety, but these have fallen on deaf ears.
  • The UN estimates that 500 people a day are dying from various diseases, including dysentery and cholera, in the camps around Goma.
  • The Kibumba camp in Zaire has reported an outbreak of meningitis, with 80 confirmed cases and a total of 2,000 expected.
  • The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that villagers who venture into RPF-held territory rarely return, fueling rumors of kangaroo courts and executions.
  • The Japanese government has agreed to send troops to Africa to help the Rwandan refugees, a decision that had previously been opposed by the Socialist party.

Statistics:

  • 20,000 Hutus have fled the Gikongoro area in just five days.
  • 8,000 men, women, and children were on the road, driving goats and long-horned cattle before them.
  • The UN estimates that 500 people a day are dying from various diseases in the camps around Goma.
  • The Kibumba camp in Zaire has reported 80 confirmed cases of meningitis and a total of 2,000 expected.
  • The ICRC reports that villagers who venture into RPF-held territory rarely return.
  • The UN's running total of deaths from various diseases stands at 31,000.

Sources:

  • Reuters
  • Associated Press
  • Fery Aalam, International Committee of the Red Cross
  • Fernando del Mundo, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Spokesman for the UN assistance mission in Rwanda
  • Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's Socialist party