Shake Hands with the Devil

In Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda, Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire provides a devastating, first-hand testimony of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Serving as the commander of the United Nations peacekeeping mission, Dallaire witnessed the unfolding horrors and the brutal violence that swept through the country, all while grappling with international indifference and severe bureaucratic constraints.

This personal memoir details the events leading up to the catastrophe and the harrowing months during which Dallaire and his soldiers struggled to protect innocent lives amidst systemic collapse. The account candidly explores the institutional failures of the United Nations and world powers who declined to intervene effectively, leaving local forces desperately short of resources and support.

Written with raw honesty and moral urgency, this international bestseller offers profound insight into modern peacekeeping, global diplomacy, and the tragic consequences of international neglect. It remains an essential historical document and a sobering, deeply moving reflection on duty, conscience, and human resilience for anyone seeking to understand modern East African history.