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In defense to the ruthless killing of the Rwandan genocide, the 14,000-man Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front launched an offensive against the armed forces and Interahamwe orchestrating the massacres. They attempted to drive back the Interahamwe and foil their plans, but were not able to succeed until mid-July. They defeated the 35,000-man army and the militias, drove the remnants of the army and government into Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo), and took control of the capital Kigali, declaring a ceasefire. United Nations aid workers and troops arrived to maintain order and bring back basic services. A multi-ethnic government took power, led by Hutu President Pasteur Bizimunga, Hutu Prime Minister Faustin Twagiramunga, and Tutsi Vice President/Minister of Defense Major General Paul Kagame, commander of the RPF. Most other cabinet posts were given to members of the RPF.

Following the end of the genocide in July and August 1994, two million Hutu civilians fled Rwanda, joining one million already in exile. In Zaire, the destination of most refugees, sick and starving Hutu exiles were dying at an appalling rate of 2000 per day. The government encouraged them to return to the food, water and relative safety waiting for them in Rwanda, but fears spread by former government troops that Hutus would be prosecuted on return prevented many from going home. Genocide Trials did not start until the end of 1996 when many had eventually returned, but are still expected to take years to complete. In 1999, more than 120,000 citizen accused of involvement in the genocide were packed into overcrowded jails.

5/20/2012-CH

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13y ago

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