Abbreviations
- ADLF
(Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo-Zaïre): National Army of the Democratic Republic of Congo that brought Congo President Laurent Kabila to power in the First Congo War (1996–1997).
- CDR
(Counsil National du Développment): Extremist political party that spun off from MRND and supported Habyarimana, before deeming him too moderate. This party became one of the key organizers of the genocide.
- FAR
(Forces Armées Rwandaise): The Rwandan government’s military during the Habyarimana regime and the genocide-era government. FAR troops were responsible for committing much of the genocide, and also engaging in the civil war against RPF forces.
- MDR
(Mouvement Démocratique Républicain): The primary opposition party to Habyarimana’s MRND; later a coalition partner in the “Government of National Unity.”
- MRND
(Mouvement Républicain National pour la Démocratie, or Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Dévelopment): Habyarimana’s political party that controlled the state from his assent to power in 1973. Its leaders were heavily involved in planning and executing the genocide.
- PL
(Parti Libéral): Opposition party to Habyarimana’s MRND. Counted many Tutsi among its members. Later a coalition partner in the “Government of National Unity.”
- PSD
(Parti Social Démocrate): Social democratic party that was one of the largest opposition parties and later a coalition partner in the “Government of National Unity.”
- RPA
The military arm of the RPF.
- RPF
(Rwandan Patriotic Front): The political arm of the guerrilla movement led by Paul Kagame that originated in Uganda.
- UNAMIR
(UN Assistance Mission in Rwanda): Initially consisted of 2,500 peacekeepers, but this number was reduced to 270 during the first days of the genocide.
- UNHCR
Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, or the UN Refugee Agency.
