Interahamwe Militia (Rwanda)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: |
no
|
| PGM ID Number: |
307
|
| Country: |
Rwanda |
| Date formed: |
Jan. 1, 1991 |
| Accuracy of date formed: |
year
|
| Details of Formation: |
The Interahamwe was created in 1991 and was set up as the youth wing of the ruling MRND party. They formed alongside the Impuzamugambi militia, which was set up by the CDR party. |
| Date dissolved: |
July 18, 1994 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: |
day
|
| Details of Termination: |
After the genocide members of Interahamwe and the change in government the militia ceased to be pro-government. During the war, many members moved into refugee camps in neighboring countries and mixed with the Tutsis. Due to this, bringing the Interahamwe to justice after the genocide became difficult for the courts. Some members fled to the DR Congo and created the rebel movement “Armée de Libération du Rwanda” there. (Wikipedia; Braithwaite 2010: 311)
|
| Termination Type(s): |
change in government
|
Former and Successor Group Information
| Predecessor group(s): |
none
|
| Successor group(s): |
none
|
| Private Military Company? |
no |
| Former Group? |
no |
| Former Armed Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group? |
no |
| Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
none |
| PGM Becomes Rebel Group? |
yes |
| Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: |
528, 1128 |
Government Relation, Support, and Training
| Government Relation: |
informal (type 1) |
| Created by the Government?: |
yes |
Main Creating Government Institution: |
person/minister
|
| Government Link(s): |
political party
|
| If link to party, name of party: |
MRND (Mouv. rép national pour la démoc. et le dévelop.) |
| Training and Equipment: |
yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: |
yes |
| Shared Personnel: |
no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: |
domestic government; military; Foreign government
|
| State Sponsor(s): |
France
|
| Other Connection(s): |
|
Group Characteristics
Ethnic Characteristics
| Ethnic Target(s): |
Tutsi (Rwanda)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: |
given
|
| Ethnic Membership: |
Hutu (Rwanda)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: |
given
|
| Ethnic Purpose: |
Tutsi (Rwanda)
|
| Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: |
given
|
Other Information
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: |
The group was set up as the youth wing of the ruling MRND party in Rwanda. Already before the genocide their violent behavior targeted Tutsis and moderate Hutus, which was intensified after the assassination of President Habyarimana (Amnesty 1994b). |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use |
unknown
|
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: |
The militia attacked Tutsi civilians before the genocide and was backed by the Hutu government. Their use of violence became more extensive after the assassination of President Habyarimana and during the genocide (Amnesty 1994a). |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: |
kidnapping/abductions; killing; beating; torture
|
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? |
no information |
| PGM Members Paid? |
no information |
| Reasons for Membership: |
Members were driven by their ethnic loyalty and joined to fight against all perceived threats for Hutus such as Tutsis or moderate Hutus. |
| PGM Members Killed? |
rarely |
PGM Size
| Size: |
One source reports that there are 1,700 militia members. |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: |
The Interahamwe militia received weapons including ammunition and grenades from government forces. Presidential Guard and the French military gave members of the milItia military training courses before the genocide. |
Organisation
| Organisation: |
The militia was initially created by the MRND party as its youth wing. Over time they received weapons and training and became a militia. Their leader was MRND-affiliated politician Robert Kajuga (Wikipedia). |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Amnesty International. 1994a. “Mass murder by government supporters and troops in April and May 1994”. AI Index: AFR 47/11/94. 23 May.
Amnesty International. 1994b. “Rwanda: Cases for Appeals”. AI Index: AFR 47/017/1994. 01 November.
Braithwaite, Alex. 2010. "Resisting infection: How state capacity conditions conflict contagion." Journal of Peace Research 47(3): 311-319.
Wikipedia. “Interahamwe”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interahamwe
Evidence
