Roméo Dallaire

Roméo Dallaire is a Canadian Army Lieutenant-General who served as the Force Commander of the UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. He is known for his efforts to stop the genocide, despite being hindered by the UN Security Council and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Dallaire has written extensively about his experiences, including in his book Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda, which won the Governor General's Award and was later adapted into a documentary film and a play by George Elliott Clarke. He has also been recognized for his work by Amnesty International, the Canadian Red Cross, and the University of Ottawa.

● Early Life and Education

Dallaire was born in Denison, Quebec, near Montreal, to a French-Canadian family. He attended Royal Military College Saint-Jean and later graduated from the RMC in Kingston, Ontario. Dallaire also attended the US Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he studied alongside other notable military leaders, including US Army General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. and General Colin Powell. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from RMC and a Master of Arts degree in Studies in War from King's College London. Dallaire has also received honorary degrees from University of Toronto, McGill University, and University of British Columbia.

● Military Career

Dallaire began his military career in the Canadian Army in 1964, serving in various infantry and armour units, including the Royal 22nd Regiment and the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1985 and served as the Commanding Officer of the 12th Canadian Armoured Regiment. Dallaire was later appointed as the Deputy Commander of the Land Force Quebec Area and served as the Assistant Chief of the Land Staff at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. He worked closely with other notable military leaders, including General John de Chastelain and Admiral Larry Murray. Dallaire was also a member of the Canadian Joint Staff and served as the Canadian Army's representative to the NATO Military Committee.

● Rwandan Genocide and Aftermath

In 1993, Dallaire was appointed as the Force Commander of the UNAMIR, a United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda. He arrived in Kigali in October 1993 and quickly became aware of the escalating tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi populations. Dallaire warned the UN Security Council and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations about the impending genocide, but his warnings were ignored. The Rwandan Genocide began in April 1994, and Dallaire's forces were unable to stop the violence due to a lack of resources and support from the UN Security Council. Dallaire worked closely with other notable figures, including Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Kofi Annan, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping. He also collaborated with NGOs such as Médecins Sans Frontières and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

● Post-Military Career and Advocacy

After retiring from the military in 2000, Dallaire became a Senator in the Canadian Senate, representing the province of Quebec. He has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and genocide prevention, and has worked with organizations such as Amnesty International and the UNHCR. Dallaire has also been involved in various initiatives, including the Rome Statute and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine. He has written several books, including Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda and They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children: The Global Quest to Eradicate the Use of Child Soldiers. Dallaire has received numerous awards for his work, including the Order of Canada, the Legion of Merit, and the Grand Officer of the National Order of Quebec.

● Personal Life and Legacy

Dallaire has been open about his struggles with PTSD and depression following his experiences in Rwanda. He has spoken publicly about the importance of mental health support for veterans and has worked with organizations such as the Canadian Mental Health Association and the True Patriot Love Foundation. Dallaire has also been recognized for his contributions to Canadian society, including his induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and his appointment as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. He has received honorary degrees from University of Toronto, McGill University, and University of British Columbia, and has been named a Distinguished Fellow of the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Dallaire's legacy continues to be felt, with his work inspiring a new generation of human rights advocates and peacekeepers, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.