All Speaking Out Case Studies > Rwandan Refugee Camps in Zaire and Tanzania 1994-1995
The 'Rwandan Refugee Camps in Zaire -Tanzania 1994-1995' case study describes the constraints, questions and dilemmas met by MSF when confronted with ‘refugee leaders” tight control over refugee camps in Zaire and Tanzania. Some of those camps were transformed into rear basis from which they planned to re-conquer Rwanda and complete the genocide of Tutsi via a massive diversion of aid, violence, propaganda and threats against refugees wishing to repatriate.
Questions and dilemmas:
- Was it acceptable for MSF to assist people who had committed genocide?
- Should MSF accept that its aid was instrumentalised by leaders who used violence against the refugees and proclaim their intention to continue the war in order to complete the genocide they had started?
- For all that, could MSF renounce assisting a population in distress and on what basis should its arguments be founded?