FROM AMAZON: When Lt-Gen. Roméo Dallaire received the call to serve as force commander of the UN intervention in Rwanda in 1993, he thought he was heading off on a modest and straightforward peacekeeping mission. Thirteen months later he flew home from Africa, broken, disillusioned and suicidal, having witnessed the slaughter of 800,000 Rwandans in only a hundred days. In Shake Hands with the Devil, he takes the reader with him on a return voyage into the hell of Rwanda, vividly recreating the events the international community turned its back on. This book is an unsparing eyewitness account of the failure by humanity to stop the genocide, despite timely warnings.
Woven through the story of this disastrous mission is Dallaire’s own journey from confident Cold Warrior, to devastated UN commander, to retired general engaged in a painful struggle to find a measure of peace, reconciliation and hope. This book is General Dallaire’s personal account of his conversion from a man certain of his worth and secure in his assumptions to a man conscious of his own weaknesses and failures and critical of the institutions he’d relied on. It might not sit easily with standard ideas of military leadership, but understanding what happened to General Dallaire and his mission to Rwanda is crucial to understanding the moral minefields our peacekeepers are forced to negotiate when we ask them to step into the world’s dirty wars.
“Shake Hands with the Devil” by Roméo Dallaire
“Shake Hands with the Devil” by Roméo Dallaire is a powerful and haunting memoir that provides a firsthand account of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, a Canadian military officer, led the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) during this tragic period.
The narrative unfolds as Dallaire recounts his experiences as the commander of UNAMIR, tasked with maintaining peace and stability in Rwanda. The book delves into the political and ethnic tensions that led to the genocide, exploring the failure of the international community to prevent the mass atrocities.
Dallaire’s memoir is a poignant reflection on the moral and psychological toll of witnessing widespread violence and the systematic slaughter of hundreds of thousands of people. He grapples with feelings of guilt, frustration, and helplessness as he describes the challenges of navigating the complex political landscape and the inadequacy of the UN mandate.
The title, “Shake Hands with the Devil,” encapsulates the author’s metaphorical encounter with the forces of evil and the brutality of humanity during the genocide. Dallaire lays bare the horrors he witnessed, the dilemmas he faced, and the emotional scars that continue to affect him.
Throughout the narrative, Dallaire emphasizes the importance of remembrance and accountability, urging the international community to learn from the mistakes of Rwanda. He advocates for a commitment to prevent future genocides and emphasizes the human cost of political inaction.
“Shake Hands with the Devil” serves as both a historical document and a personal testimony, providing readers with a visceral understanding of the atrocities committed during the Rwandan genocide. Dallaire’s eloquent and introspective writing style contributes to the impact of the memoir, making it a crucial read for those interested in understanding the complexities of peacekeeping, the consequences of political failure, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable horrors.
Film: “Shake Hands with the Devil” (2007)
This dramatic adaptation, also titled “Shake Hands with the Devil,” is a Canadian film directed by Roger Spottiswoode. The movie stars Roy Dupuis as Roméo Dallaire and covers the events of the Rwandan genocide. It focuses on Dallaire’s struggles with the inadequate resources, political complexities, and personal demons he faced while leading UNAMIR. The film aims to depict the moral dilemma and emotional toll on Dallaire as he grapples with the horrors of genocide and the world’s indifference.
My Goodreads Review:
Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda by Roméo Dallaire
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The book is a searing and heart-wrenching account of the Rwandan genocide, providing an unflinching look into the atrocities that unfolded in 1994. As the commander of the UN mission in Rwanda, Dallaire chronicles the descent into chaos, recounting the political failures, the moral dilemmas, and the unimaginable brutality he witnessed. His writing is both visceral and reflective, conveying the profound impact of witnessing mass violence and the haunting memories that linger. Dallaire’s memoir is a powerful call for remembrance, accountability, and a stark reminder of the consequences of international inaction in the face of humanitarian crises. This gripping narrative offers readers a deep understanding of the complexities of peacekeeping and the urgent need for a collective commitment to prevent such horrors from repeating in our world.
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