A Forgotten Documentary on the US Response to the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda
The documentary Rwanda: That was a local thing stands out as one of the most revealing Western accounts of the international community’s failure to act during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Despite its powerful message, it remains relatively unknown. The film raises a critical question: why did the United States, which had played a significant role in shaping the global human rights framework, choose to ignore the Genocide Convention and turn its back on Rwanda?
This documentary, directed by Israeli filmmaker Dror Moreh, is part of his broader series titled Corridors of Power: Should America Police the World?, which explores U.S. foreign policy across four presidential administrations. It delves into the U.S. government’s decision-making process during the genocide and highlights the lack of accountability for the actions—or inactions—of key officials.
The U.S. Failure and the Denial of Genocide
One of the central themes of the documentary is the U.S. government’s refusal to label the events in Rwanda as a genocide. This denial has had lasting consequences, not only for the victims but also for the broader understanding of the tragedy. The U.S. continued to use the term “Rwandan genocide” rather than acknowledging the specific targeting of the Tutsi population. This choice, according to critics, was rooted in a desire to avoid legal and moral obligations under the Genocide Convention.
In 2020, the U.S. abstained from a General Assembly vote that sought to include the phrase “genocide against the Tutsi” in the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide. Officials argued that the new wording would not account for the deaths of other groups, but this reasoning is widely seen as an attempt to sidestep the reality of the genocide.
Honest Accounts from U.S. Officials
The documentary features interviews with retired U.S. government officials who express deep regret over their roles in the events leading up to and during the genocide. Anthony Lake, who served as National Security Adviser under President Bill Clinton, admitted he should have taken a more active role when the crisis began. He described the failure to address the situation as a personal burden he will carry for the rest of his life.
John Shattuck, then Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights, called the U.S. response a “terrible mistake” and emphasized the need for an official inquiry. He recalled being advised by the State Department’s legal office that the U.S. did not officially classify the events as genocide. “If we don’t determine it’s a genocide, we don’t have to do anything about it,” he said.
Prudence Bushnell, who was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of African Affairs, shared her anguish over the decision to leave Rwandan citizens behind. She recounted a secret deal between the U.S. and the genocidaires, in which diplomats were evacuated while Rwandans were left to face the horrors of the genocide alone. The emotional impact of this decision was evident in the faces of her colleagues, many of whom understood the dire consequences of inaction.
The Legacy of Inaction
The documentary also reveals how the U.S. government failed to take any meaningful action despite clear evidence of the planned extermination of the Tutsi. Intelligence reports from Kigali were available to senior officials, and the massacres were discussed in high-level meetings. Yet, the idea of sending U.S. troops was never seriously considered.
The fear of another Somalia-like disaster, following the Black Hawk Down incident in 1993, influenced the decision-making process. As Shattuck noted, the genocidaires were aware of this reluctance and factored it into their planning.
The Ongoing Struggle for Truth
Thirty-two years after the genocide, the U.S. still refuses to officially acknowledge the genocide against the Tutsi. This stance not only undermines the truth but also emboldens those who seek to deny or minimize the atrocities. The documentary serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of accountability and the need for a full reckoning with the past.
The writer of the article is a British investigative journalist who has extensively researched and written about the circumstances of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. She is the author of three books on Rwanda: A People Betrayed, Conspiracy to Murder, and Intent to Deceive.
