Warning Letter Received by General Roméo Dallaire

On 3 December 1993, General Roméo Dallaire, the Force Commander for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), received a significant letter from a group of senior Rwandan military and police officers.

Key Points of the Letter:

1. Content:
   • The letter warned of a plan by military officers loyal to President Juvénal Habyarimana to sabotage the Arusha Peace Agreement.
   • The sabotage would include the assassination of political elites from opposition parties, which were key players in the peace process.
2. Implications:
   • The letter revealed deep divisions within the Rwandan military and highlighted the resistance of certain factions to the implementation of the Arusha Accords.
   • The assassination threats were intended to destabilize political opposition, disrupt the transition to a multiparty system, and maintain the dominance of the ruling party and Habyarimana’s allies.
3. UNAMIR’s Role:
   • As the commander of UNAMIR, Dallaire was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the peace agreement, including the disarmament of militias and the establishment of a transitional government.
   • This warning highlighted the challenges UNAMIR faced in maintaining peace and foreshadowed the obstacles to preventing mass violence.
4. Historical Context:
   • The Arusha Peace Agreement, signed in August 1993, was a fragile attempt to end the civil war between the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and the government of Rwanda.
   • It faced resistance from hardline factions within the government and military, particularly members of the Akazu, the circle of Habyarimana’s close associates.

Outcome:

Despite the warning, the plot to undermine the peace process continued, culminating in the assassination of President Habyarimana on 6 April 1994, which triggered the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

This letter was one of the early indications of the coordinated efforts by extremists to derail peace efforts and retain power through violence and genocide. It underscored the failure of the international community to act decisively despite clear warnings of impending atrocities.