In 1994 Lt Luc Lemaire was in command of a company tasked with guarding a police station at a school in Kigali, Rwanda. There were c2,000 civilians at the school and he was surrounded by an armed militia threatening to rape and kill the civilians he was protecting. 1/3

Lemaire was deployed as part of a UN mission and had declared that whilst the UN flag flew at his station the population was safe. He knew that his presence was deterring an attack. But the militia were increasingly aggressive and he had limited supplies. 2/3

He was ordered to withdraw. And he followed his orders. When he left there was a massacre.

We don't condemn his decision.

But how do we, as future sub unit commanders, balance right/wrong, orders, and ethical responsibilities?

What would you have done? 3/3