This was an incredibly thorough book dealing with the Rwandan genocide. It was an intensely emotional and difficult book to read. I had to keep puting it down in order to try to digest the incredible injustices that were involved in the lead- up and the aftermath of the genocide that nearly decimated an entire tribe of African peoples. The author does a phenominal job of painting the historical lead-up to the genocide ... then follows the stories of a number of Rwandans as they tell their personal experiences during the genocide. That so many, otherwise rational and sane people, could have been induced to slaughter neighbors, family members, and strangers is a reflection of the reality of Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, and DESPERATELY wicked: Who can know it?"
The silence of the international community in the midst of this terrifying tragedy was appalling and highlighted by the author too. In spite of numerous attempts to get the attention of the UN, Rwanda was all but ignored. In the aftermath of the genocide when rebel forces overthrew the Hutu Power forces, thousands of Rwandans fled across the border to Zaire where the international community suddenly came alive and flooded the refugee camps with international aid of all kinds ... and in the process, actually supported the reorganization of the Hutu genocidaires in the camps, and ended up extending the genocide further. AFRICANS with very little help from outside, established a stabalized government in Rwanda that, at the time of the writing of this book was still rather shaky.
The author interviewed members of the newly formed government and was able to articulate some of the very difficult issues that need to be resolved by a people trying to rebuild their lives in Rwanda.
This was an excellent book.