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Glite Dictionary
Interahamwe

Interahamwe

1 9.9
A violent armed group in Rwanda that killed many Tutsi in 1994
  • proper noun
  • Offensive
translation icon : Interahamwe
  • The persistent menace of the Interahamwe posed a fundamental security problem for Rwanda's political stability.
  • Rwandan Interahamwe
  • Hutu Interahamwe

Examples

  • The militia of the MRNDD was called the Interahamwe, which would later become the principal participant in the genocide.

    Academic text (2006)

  • In the meantime, the Interahamwe continued to destabilize parts of eastern Congo and Rwanda.

    Academic text (2003)

  • What about the Interahamwe, General?

    Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

  • I thought we had a deal with the Interahamwe.

    Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

  • The Interahamwe have set up a gate outside.

    Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

  • On the way in, they drove past the Interahamwe waiting outside.

    Blog text (11)

  • This Jean-Pierre is a leader of the Interahamwe.

    Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

  • Meanwhile the Interahamwe are saying they can't guarantee the security of our refugee transfers anymore.

    Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

  • The UN estimates that between 500,000 and 800,000 persons were killed by the Interahamwe, 90 percent of whom were Tutsi.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The Interahamwe were responsible for the widespread violence during the genocide in Rwanda.

Surface Forms

Interahamwe main

Etymology

Interahamwe comes from the Kinyarwanda language and means roughly 'those who attack together' or 'those who work together'. That's why the name was used for the Rwandan armed group that worked together to carry out attacks during the 1994 genocide.