A Journey Of Understanding: Reflections On The 1994 Rwandan Genocide

In the summer of 2023, 11 Cadets and 5 faculty members traveled to Rwanda to study the 1994 genocide with the goal of analyzing the causes and consequences of the genocide, UN peacekeeping force commander General Romeo Dallaire’s decision-making during the crisis, and reconciliation efforts in the country. During two weeks in Rwanda, the team toured sites related to the genocide and met with survivors and perpetrators to try and understand underlying issues surrounding that horrible event in which approximately 1,000,000 people were murdered in cold blood. This video is a reflection of their journey of comprehension and understanding, where they wrestled with analyzing the genocide itself, understanding the limitations of the UN peacekeeping force and the complexities of the UN mandate, and recognizing the challenges of putting society back together, all considered within the moral and ethical context that shapes US Army Officers.