Interview with Lieutenant Commander (Ret'd) Paul Seguna on the Rwandan Genocide of 1994
Narrator: Seguna, Paul G., 1957-. Interviewer: Interviewed by Faith Brown . Interview Date and Location 04 March 2024, Victoria BC. Synopsis: Seguna begins by discussing his early life including his military career, in broad terms. He then outlines the situation in Rwanda and the pre-mission mandate. Seguna describes the ten-day Public Affairs Mission, in which he led a team of media personnel through Rwanda documenting the carnage. Seguna outlines several interactions with local populations and discusses the personal impact of witnessing the genocide. He then notes the difficulties of reintegration into western society and the lasting effects of PTSD. The interview also examines the role of peacekeeping as a whole in the international community and explores the question of its effectiveness. 0:00 – 2:16 – Growing up and moving from Sydney Australia to Montreal and back. 2:17 – 3:30 – Enlistment with the RCN and overview of military career. 3:31 – 6:53 – Introduction to Rwanda and the Public Affairs Mission. 6:54 – 8:28 – Pre-mission training and deployment to Rwanda. 8:29 – 10:45 – Background on the conflict and overview of the mission mandate. 10:46 – 14:34 – Canada’s role in the conflict, including peacekeeping operations. 14:35 – 16:57 – Day-to-day peacekeeping operations in Rwanda. 16: 58 – 21:34 – Description of initial impressions of the situation upon arrival. 21:35 – 23:05 – Travel through Rwanda and interactions with local populations. 23:06 – 24:40 – Description of local church full of bodies who had been slaughtered by the Interahamwe. 24:41 – 27:20 – Descriptions of individual interactions with local populations. 27:21 – 30:20 – Description of personal impact of Rwanda on Seguna. 30:21 – 31:54 – The impact of the Genocide and PTSD. 31:55 – 37:15 – Account of a women hit by a UN vehicle and reactions of the Rwandan soldiers. 37:16 – 38:40 – Interactions with peacekeepers from other countries. 38:41 – 47:45 – Departing Rwanda and reintegration back into Western society. 47:46 – 54:15 – Discussion on peacekeeping as a means of conflict resolution, particularly in terms of the Rwandan Genocide. 54:16 – 56:20 – Effectiveness of peacekeeping in Rwanda. 56:21 – 01:00:41 – Conclusion. Suggested Clip(s) for Archive: 23:06 – 24:40 – Description of local church full of bodies who had been slaughtered by the Interahamwe. 27:21 – 30:20 – Description of personal impact of Rwanda on Seguna. 30:21 – 31:54 – The impact of the genocide and PTSD.
- In Collection:
- Interview #SC141_SP_917
- 01:01:24
- The Devil’s Touch: An Examination of the Rwandan Genocide.
- -2, 30
- 1.25, 32.5
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- Accession Number: 2025-002; Series 5; Item: 917
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- 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