Interview with Colonel (Ret'd) Michael Hanrahan on the Rwandan Genocide of 1994

Narrator: Hanrahan, Michael, 1951-. Interviewer: Interviewed by Faith Brown. Interview Date and Location 14 March 2024, Victoria BC. Synopsis: Hanrahan begins by describing his early childhood as the son of an officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He notes his long military career, outlining his deployments all over the world including the United Kingdom, Central Affric, and the Middle East. He played an essential role during the Rwandan Genocide providing logistical support to Romeo Dallaire and the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces in 1994. Hanrahan goes on to describe the massacre sites and interactions with local populations throughout his time in Rwanda. He touches on the aftermath of the conflict, specifically mentioning the struggles faced by his men regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 0:00 – 1:28 – Growing up as the son of an officer in the Royal Canadian Airforce. 1:29 – 2:02 – Enlistment as an officer cadet and finishing his military career as a Colonel. 2:03 – 22:17 – Overview of military career from military college, deployments in Europe, the Middle East, and Central Affric and employment with the United Nations. 22:18 – 29:00 – Pre-mission knowledge on the situation in Rwanda and first deployment with report recommending immediate aid. 29:01 – 30:00 – Displaced person camps and aid reintegrating civilians back into their villages after the genocide. 30:01– 30:54 – Arrival of Infantry Battalions and patrol of the country. 30:55 – 33:01 – Orphanages and description of the Canadian Forces at Christmas with the children. 33:02 – 36:40 – Second Deployment to Rwanda and observations of the situation, Canada Day. 36:41 – 38:49 – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the 20-year reunion of Canadian soldiers after the genocide. 38:50 – 43:33– Witnessing the genocide and massacre sites, church complexes. 43:34 – 45:46 – Life at headquarters and the Amahoro Stadium. 45:47 – 56:25 – Interactions with local populations and the impact of fresh rations. 56:26 – 59:50 – Overall impact of the genocide and peacekeeping officers. 59:51 – 1:01:03 – Personal impact of Rwandan Genocide. 1:01:04 – 1:07:10 – Role of peacekeeping on the international community. 1:07:11 – 1:13:20 – Departure from Rwanda, difficulties leaving the country and having to use bribery. 1:13:21 – 1:20:00 – Reintegration into Western Civilization. 1:20:01 – 1:22:48 – Conclusions. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 30:55 – 33:01 – Orphanages and description of the Canadian Forces at Christmas with the children. 36:41 – 38:49 – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the 20-year reunion of Canadian soldiers after the genocide. 38:50 – 43:33– Witnessing the genocide and massacre sites, church complexes. 59:51 – 1:01:03 – Personal impact of Rwandan Genocide. 1:01:04 – 1:07:10 – Role of peacekeeping on the international community. 1:07:11 – 1:13:20 – Departure from Rwanda, difficulties leaving the country and having to use bribery.

In Collection:

• Canadian Military Oral Histories

Contributor

• Hanrahan, Michael
• Brown, Faith

Subject

• Soldiers--Mental health
• Rwandan Civil War (Rwanda : 1994)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Peacekeeping forces, Canadian
• Military history
• United Nations
• Soldiers
• Canada. Canadian Armed Forces
• Peacekeeping forces
• Genocide

Language

• eng

Identifier

• Interview #SC141_HM_916

Keyword

• S4
• Church Complexes
• Romeo Dallaire
• UNEF II
• Infantry Battalions
• Bribery
• Orphanages
• Christmas Day
• Combat arms
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Calgary
• Rwandan Genocide
• Massacre Sites
• Peacekeeping
• Bosnia
• Cyprus
• Kigali
• Canada Day
• United Nations (UN) New York

Date created

• March 14, 2024

Relation

• Part of the Military Oral History Class collection of interviews (HIST 426, 2024).

Resource type

• Moving Image

Rights statement

• In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Extent

• 01:22:48

Alternative title

• The Devil’s Touch: An Examination of the Rwandan Genocide.

Geographic Coverage

• Cyprus
• Rwanda
• Alberta--Calgary

Coordinates

• 51.05011, -114.08529
• -2, 30
• 35, 33

Physical Repository

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Collection

• Canadian Military Oral History Collection

Provider

• University of Victoria (B.C.). Library

Genre

• interviews
• oral histories (literary genre)
• reminiscences
• video recordings (physical artifacts)

Archival item identifier

• Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 5; Item: 916

Fonds title

• Military oral history collection

Fonds identifier

• SC141

Is referenced by

• Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection

Technical note

• Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2024. Recorded in digital format by interviewer. Keywords supplied by interviewer. Metadata by KD.

Rights

• This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca

DOI

•  https://doi.org/10.58066/fyrg-pk63