Back İnterahamve Azerbaijani Інтэрахамвэ Byelorussian Interahamwe Catalan Interahamwe Czech Interahamwe German Interahamwe Spanish Interahamwe Basque Interahamwe Finnish Interahamwe French Interahamwe Galician
| Interahamwe | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the Interahamwe | |
| Leaders | Robert Kajuga (president) Georges Rutaganda (vice president) Augustin Bizimungu Tharcisse Renzaho Ildéphonse Hategekimana Ildéphonse Nizeyimana Protais Mpiranya Callixte Nzabonimana Aloys Ndimbati |
| Active regions | Jungles of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; formerly Rwanda |
| Ideology | Hutu Power Hutu ultranationalism Anti-communism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Size | 100,000 (1994) 20,000 (1998) |
| Part of | MRND |
| Allies |  Impuzamugambi Zaire (1996–1997) Army for the Liberation of Rwanda (1996–2001) DR Congo (1998–2003) FDLR (2000–present) |
| Opponents |  Rwandan Patriotic Front (1994) Rwanda (1994–present) AFDL (1996–1997) Uganda (1996–present) |
| Battles and wars | Rwandan genocide First Congo War Second Congo War |
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| Part of a series on the |
| Rwandan genocide |
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The Interahamwe (/ˌɪntərəˈhɑːmweɪ/ or [í.nɦêː.ɾɑ́.hɑ́.mŋe]) is a Hutu paramilitary organization active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The Interahamwe was formed around 1990 as the youth wing of the National Republican Movement for Democracy and Development (MRND according to its French name), the then-ruling party of Rwanda, and enjoyed the backing of the Hutu Power government. The Interahamwe, led by Robert Kajuga, were the main perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide, during which an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Tutsi, Twa, and moderate Hutus were killed from April to July 1994, and the term "Interahamwe" was widened to mean any civilian militias or bands killing Tutsi.[1][2]
The Interahamwe were driven out of Rwanda after Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) victory in the Rwandan Civil War in July 1994, and are considered a terrorist organisation by many African and Western governments. The Interahamwe and splinter groups such as the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) continue to wage an insurgency against Rwanda from neighboring countries, where they are also involved in local conflicts and terrorism.
- ^ Reyntjens, Filip (21 October 2014). "Rwanda's Untold Story. A reply to "38 scholars, scientists, researchers, journalists and historians"". African Arguments. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
- ^ Des Forges, Alison (March 1999). Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda – The Organization → The Militia. New York: Human Rights Watch. ISBN 1-56432-171-1. Archived from the original on 2021-03-07. Retrieved 2017-12-08.