 |
April 6, 1994
President Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira are killed when the Rwandan leader's plane is shot down as it is about to land at Kigali Airport. Hutu extremists opposed to the Arusha Peace Accords are believed to be behind the attack.
|
|
|
Day 1 - Estimated Death Toll: 8,000 |
|
|
|
April 7, 1994
The Rwandan Armed Forces (FAR) and Hutu militia (the Interahamwe) set up roadblocks and go from house-to-house killing Tutsis and moderate Hutu politicians. 10 Belgian UN peacekeepers are killed. UN forces, unwilling to breach their mandate, fail to intervene.
|
|
|
|
April 8, 1994
The Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) launches a major offensive to end the killings and rescue 600 of its troops based in Kigali under the Arusha Accords.
|
|
|
Day 4 - Estimated Death Toll: 32,000 |
|
|
|
April 9-10, 1994
French, Belgian and American civilians are rescued by their governments. No Rwandans are rescued.
|
|
|
|
April 11, 1994
At the Don Bosco school, protected by Belgian UNAMIR soldiers, the number of civilians seeking refuge reaches 2,000. That afternoon, the U.N. soldiers are ordered to withdraw to the airport. Most refugees are killed after their departure.
|
|
|
|
April 15, 1994
Belgium withdraws its troops from the U.N. force after ten Belgian soldiers are slain. Embarrassed to be withdrawing alone, Belgium asks the U.S. to support a full pullout. Secretary of State Christopher agrees and tells Madeleine Albright, America's U.N. ambassador, to demand complete withdrawal. She is opposed, as are some African nations. She pushes for a compromise: a dramatic cutback that would leave a token force in place.
|
|
|
Day 8 - Estimated Death Toll: 64,000 |
|
|
|
April 16, 1994
The New York Times reports the shooting and hacking to death of some 1000 men, women and children in a church where they sought refuge.
|
|
|
|
April 19, 1994
Human Rights Watch estimates the number of dead at 100,000 and calls on the U.N. Security Council to use the word "genocide." Belgian troops leave Rwanda; Gen. Dallaire leader of the ill-fated U.N. Security Council is down to a force of 2,100. He will soon lose communication lines to outlying areas and will have only a satellite link to the outside world.
|
|
|
|
April 21, 1994
The UN cuts the level of its forces in Rwanda by 90% to just 270 troops.
|
|
|
Day 18 - Estimated Death Toll: 144,000 |
|
|
|
April 30, 1994
The U.N. Security Council passes a resolution condemning the killing, but omits the word "genocide." Had the term been used, the U.N. would have been legally obliged to act to "prevent and punish" the perpetrators. In one day, 250,000 Rwandans, mainly Hutus fleeing the advance of the Tutsi RPF, cross the border into Tanzania.
|
|
|
Day 21 - Estimated Death Toll: 168,000 |
|
|
|
May 17, 1994
The UN Security Council issues a fresh resolution saying that 'acts of genocide may have been committed'. It also agrees to send 5,500 troops with new powers to defend civilians, however deployment is delayed by disagreements between the US and UN over the financing of the operation.
|
|
|
Day 41 - Estimated Death Toll: 328,000 |
|
|
|
May 22, 1994
RPF forces gain control of Kigali airport and Kanombe barracks, and extend their control over the northern and eastern parts of Rwanda.
|
|
|
Day 49 - Estimated Death Toll: 392,000 |
|
|
|
June 22, 1994
With arguments over the deployment still continuing, the Security Council authorizes the deployment of French forces in southwest Rwanda--"Operation Turquoise." They create a "safe area" in territory controlled by the government. However, killings of Tutsis continue in the safe area.
|
|
|
Day 77 - Estimated Death Toll: 616,000 |
|
|
|
July 4, 1994
The RPF takes control of Kigali and the southern town of Butare. Its leadership claims it will form a government on the basis of the Arusha Accords.
|
|
|
|
July 13-14, 1994
Refugees fleeing the RPF advance in northwestern Rwanda flood into Zaire. Approximately 10,000-12,000 refugees per hour cross the border into the town of Goma. The massive influx creates a severe humanitarian crisis, as there is an acute lack of shelter, food and water.
|
|
|
|
July 18, 1994
The RPF announces that the war is over, declares a cease-fire and names Pastor Bizimungu as president with Faustin Twagiramungu as prime minister.
|
|
|
|
Day 100 - An estimated 800,000 Rwandans have been killed. |
|
|
This timeline is published courtesy of PBS/FRONTLINE. Read the full timeline of the genocide at the PBS/FRONTLINE web site.
|
|
|
|
|
