7. The Rwandan Government Collapse (1994)
The Rwandan government’s collapse in 1994 was precipitated by the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana on April 6, 1994, which ignited a systematic campaign of mass violence against the Tutsi population and moderate Hutus. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR), initially deployed to monitor the peace process, was ill-equipped to prevent or halt the genocide (peacekeeping.un.org). By July 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) had gained control over most of the country, leading to the formation of a Broad-Based Government of National Unity. The genocide resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 people, predominantly Tutsis, and left a lasting impact on Rwanda’s social and political landscape.
