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Army for the Liberation of Rwanda

Army for the Liberation of Rwanda

9.9
A group of armed fighters who use violence to try to take control of Rwanda
  • proper noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : Interahamwe
  • The Army for the Liberation of Rwanda was responsible for numerous atrocities during the civil war.

Examples

  • The Army for the Liberation of Rwanda was held responsible for several violent attacks in the late 1990s.

  • The government increased security along the border to prevent incursions by the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda.

  • International organizations have condemned the actions of the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda.

  • Many people fear the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda due to its violent history.

  • International organizations have condemned the actions of the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda.

  • The Army for the Liberation of Rwanda was held responsible for several violent attacks in the late 1990s.

  • Many people fear the Army for the Liberation of Rwanda due to its violent history.

Synonyms

Interahamwe
vsArmy for the Liberation of Rwanda
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A violent armed group in Rwanda that killed many Tutsi in 1994

focuses on overthrow and terrorism rather than specific 1994 genocide actions
Former Armed Forces
vsArmy for the Liberation of Rwanda
  • NSFW
9.9

A Rwandan rebel group that fought to overthrow the Tutsi government and restore Hutu rule

is the same group but named by its militant designation not the former label

Surface Forms

Morphology

army + for + the + liberation + of + Rwanda

The name is fully compositional: 'army' + 'for the liberation' + 'Rwanda' clearly denotes an organized military force whose purpose is to liberate (or seize control in) Rwanda. This structure is cross-linguistically common and a B1 learner who knows 'army' and 'liberation' would readily infer it refers to a militant group fighting for control or freedom in Rwanda.

Etymology

Army for the Liberation of Rwanda is a name made of simple words: army (a group of fighters) and liberation (freeing a place). The group likely chose this name to say they wanted to 'free' Rwanda, so today the name refers to an armed group known for using violence.