UN peacekeeping soldiers from Rwanda patrol on December 09, 2014 in Bangui. The UN peacekeeping mission currently counts 8,600 people on the ground, and plans to increase this number to 12,000. AFP PHOTO / Pacome PABANDJI (Photo credit should read PACOME PABANDJI/AFP/Getty Images)

by Alexandra Tompson, Forbes.com   Apr 20, 2017

They call it the Switzerland of Africa, with its high mountains, green valleys and beautiful lakes. Rwanda is a dream destination. It turned into a nightmare 23 years ago. April 7, 1994 marked the beginning of the unprecedented slaughter. Between April and June, 800,000 were killed in less than 100 days. The systematic massacre of Tutsis and moderate Hutus spread throughout the country with astounding speed and brutality. Ordinary citizens took up machetes, spears and knives against their neighbors. Blood and tears were all over the country. Hundreds of mass graves.

The international community closed its eyes. Unlike other atrocities of the 20th century, the Rwandan genocide unfolded before the public eye. Journalists, radio broadcasters and TV news reporters covered the events live from the ground. The world’s largest peacekeeping force did not intervene. UN troops stood by and did nothing. They were ordered to withdraw when most needed.  READ it HERE