President Clinton Appeals for Increased Aid to Rwanda Amid Ethnic Violence

Strategic Insights -

President Clinton has appealed to Congress to more than double aid for Rwanda, aiming to increase the flow of food, medicine, and water to millions of Rwandans displaced by ethnic violence. The administration plans to send 200 U.S. troops to open the Kigali airport, which will be handed over to multinational forces. The goal is to boost humanitarian assistance for the struggling African nation, where clashes between Hutus and Tutsis have killed up to 500,000 people and displaced 3 million refugees.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Clinton has requested an additional $320 million in aid for Rwanda, bringing the total U.S. assistance to almost half a billion dollars.
  • 200 U.S. troops will be sent to open and operate the Kigali airport, which may then be turned over to control by multinational forces.
  • The U.S. effort is focused on humanitarian relief, with the influence of the 200 U.S. troops restricted to the airport boundaries, and will take place in parallel with the United Nations mission in Rwanda.
  • The U.S. does not recognize the Hutu-led government, due to its blame for genocidal acts against Tutsi rivals, and instead recognizes the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) as the legitimate government of Rwanda.
  • The State Department has announced that it will work with the RPF to fulfill the humanitarian mission, but will also press for the formation of a truly broad-based government that respects human rights.
  • The RPF has given its approval for the U.S. relief effort to move supplies through the Kigali airfield, which will be a key factor in expanding relief operations.
  • The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees reports that refugees are dying at a rate of over one per minute, due to a cholera epidemic, and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, John Deutch, has described the relief effort as "a race against time".
  • The U.S. has already approved $50 million in emergency aid for Rwanda, but President Clinton is seeking additional funding to support the relief efforts.

Statistics:

  • Up to 500,000 people have died in the clashes between Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda.
  • 3 million Rwandan refugees have been displaced, with many living in neighboring nations.
  • 200 U.S. troops are set to be deployed to Rwanda to operate the Kigali airport.
  • The total U.S. assistance to Rwanda could reach almost half a billion dollars if the $320 million request is approved.
  • Refugees are dying at a rate of over one per minute due to the cholera epidemic.

Sources:

  • "Clinton Urges Congress to Double Aid to Rwanda" (The New York Times, July 29)
  • "US Plans to Send Troops to Rwanda to Open Airport" (Reuters, July 29)
  • "Clinton Seeks to Double Aid to Rwanda" (AP News, July 29)