This timeline outlines select events that occurred in Rwanda before the genocide began in April 1994.

This message was written about a week after the start of the genocide (April 15, 1994). It outlines the reasons why the U.S. State Department believed that the United Nations should withdraw all UNAMIR forces from Rwanda. The US was hesitant to support foreign intervention; the year before, a failed US mission in Somalia resulted in the death of 18 American soldiers.

Roméo Dallaire, Commander of the UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda, sent this message to UN headquarters in January 1994, three months before genocide in Rwanda began. In the note, Dallaire describes an informant’s reports that Hutu leaders were preparing for genocide against the Tutsi. At the time of its receipt, the UN chose not to change its course of action.

These notes come from a May 1994 meeting of the UN Security Council. During the meeting, Rwandan Foreign Minister Jerome Bicamumpaka addresses the Council, denying that perpetrators in Rwanda are acting with genocidal intent.

Impact Researchers will conduct research on the internet related to the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda.