In one of the most awesome and welcome popular movements in modern times 700,000 Rwandan refugees are on their way back home, having separated from the Hutu extremists who were holding sway over them in Zairean camps for more than two years. Their exodus promises to transform the Great Lakes crisis, making it much more amenable to political resolution, humanitarian rehabilitation and just retribution.
Behind these events can be discerned one of the most noteworthy and successful military campaigns of our times. A combination of the Banyumalenge rebel force in eastern Zaire, in alliance with the Rwandan army, successively took on the elements of the Zairean army and then confronted the Hutu Interhamwe extremists in the refugee camps. Foreseeing the preparation of an international force in recent days which could have prevented an outright military. confrontation, the alliance appears to have pressed home their advantage, driving the Interhamwe forces into undisciplined flight. Immediately released from their bondage, the refugees have begun their journey home.
It is a lesson in military self reliance for all concerned. Aid workers on the ground have been calling for an international force with a mandate to disarm the Hutu extremists and release their hold on the refugees. They have learned some bitter lessons, including the role of the refugee camps and humanitarian aid in providing a base and a shield for the extremists. This presented an excruciating dilemma for those whose primary concern was to prevent mass starvation and death, even at the risk of perpetuating the extremists' position. Calling for a strong international mandate proved to be a forlorn hope or expectation. As in 1994, it has taken a military victory to break the deadlock and open up the possibility of political agreement and national reconciliation after the genocide.
These events have overtaken the intensive debates of the last few days on how best to proceed with international humanitarian aid and peace keeping or peace enforcing mandates. There appears to have been a decisive shift towards rehabilitation, monitoring the safe return of refugees and ensuring that the culture of impunity that so facilitated genocide in Rwanda is overcome by means of a far more effective legal system. All this will need substantial resources. And even if it is successfully addressed within Rwanda there remains the continuing Burundi crisis and the wider regional instability that has been exposed by these events.
International initiatives must be directed towards rebuilding infrastructures and facilitating the convening of political dialogue and negotiations. A regional conference aimed at a comprehensive settlement is an essential component in which, once again, African self reliance should be encouraged to the greatest possible degree. Bellicose talk from Zairean leaders yesterday is a sharp reminder that even if Rwanda may be on the road to reconciliation, the region as a whole remains extremely volatile.