Dr Jonathan Beloff is a Research Associate focusing on the regional politics and security of the African Great Lakes composing the nations of Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Currently, he is conducting research under Dr Michael Rainsborough focusing on the military impact during the Rwandan Civil War (1990-1994) on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

He holds a PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), a Master of Science from New York University and a Bachelor of Arts from the Richard Stockton University of New Jersey. He has published a book as well as several academic journal articles, book chapters, book reviews and editorials on issues facing Central and East Africa. Since 2008, his travels to the region have led him to work with numerous Rwandan institutions such as the National Commission for the Fight against Genocide and the Kigali Genocide Memorial. He has also provided consultation to many international government and civil officials. Within these periods of foreign residence, with particular reference to his multiple extended stays in Rwanda, he developed unique skills to engage and consult with a range of different foreign officials as well as Rwandan elites and policymakers in the understanding and formation of public policy.

He is also a Visiting Researcher for the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

 

Research Interests

• Central African Politics, Security and Development
• Post-genocide reconstruction of Rwanda
• Relations between the Global North with Global South, particularly Central and East Africa.
• African Foreign Relations and regional politics

The research focuses on the impact of military confrontations between the Rwanda Patriotic Army (RPA), the former military wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and the Forces Rwandaises de Défense within Kigali, Rwanda. Specifically (FAR), it examines the RPA's decision making during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. A core element in this proposed research will be on the strategic implications that impacted how the RPA decision makers decided to implement specific military strategies.

 

Publications

Book

• Foreign Policy in Post-Genocide Rwanda: Elite Perceptions of Global Engagement (2021), Oxon: Routledge.

Research Articles

• Rwanda’s Securitisation of Genocide Denial: A Political Mechanism for Power or to Combat Ontological Insecurity? African Security Review (2021), Vol 30, Issue 2

• How Piracy is Affecting Economic Developing in Puntland, Somalia. The Journal of Strategic Security, (2013) Vol 6, No 1.

• The Relationship between M23 Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Rwandan Defence Force. Perspectives on Global Issues (2013) Vol 8, Issue 1.
• Leadership Mindsets: The Social and Political Development of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) of the Past Twenty Years, (Co-Wrote with Samantha Lakin) Journal of African Union Studies, (2014) Vol 3, Issue 3.
• Rwanda, Israel and Operation Protective Edge Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs (2016) Vol 9, Issue 4.
• The Limitations of Space within the Realm of Rwandan Study SJPR: The SOAS Journal of Postgraduate Research (2017), Vol 10.
• Peace and Compromise, Idealism and Constraint: The Case of the Arusha Peace Accords in Rwanda and Burundi, (Co-Wrote with Samantha Lakin) Genocide Studies and Prevention (2019), Vol 12, Issue 2.

Book Chapters

• In Print: “Contributions to Peacekeeping for Promotion of Localized Rwandan Norms” Chapter accepted for an upcoming edited book: Alternative Perspectives on Peacebuilding: Theories and Case Studies Publishing company: Palgrave

• “The Real Hero of Hotel Rwanda?” found in Confronting Genocide in Rwanda: Dehumanization, Denial, and Strategies for Prevention, CNLG/Apidama Ediciones (2014), p. 255-74.
• “The Historical Relationship between Religion and Government in Rwanda,” found in Global Secularisms a Post-Secular Age, De Gruyter (2015), p. 205-22.
• In Print: ‘Double Genocide’ or Revenge Killings? Did the Liberators of the Rwandan Tutsi Genocide Commit their own Genocide?’ Accepted pending final peer review Publishing company: Intersentia

Media Articles

• “Rwanda genocide: Macron forgiveness plea resets historic ties” The Conversation (May 29, 2021), Link
• “The US and Rwanda: how the relationship has evolved since the 1994 genocide” The Conversation (August 3, 2022), Link
• “Rwanda and DRC’s turbulent past continues to fuel their torrid relationship” The Conversation (August 9, 2022), Link
• “Rwanda wants to be a Francophone leader – even though it distrusts France” The Conversation (August 22, 2018), Link
• “Black Earth Rising: a nuanced portrayal of Rwanda’s complex post-genocide history” The Conversation (October 31, 2018), Link
• “Rwanda: as tensions mount with Uganda, here’s how to defuse the crisis” The Conversation (March 18, 2019), Link
• “Rwandans will want Félicien Kabuga tried at home. Why this won’t happen” The Conversation (May 21, 2020), Link
• France 24: Who is Félicien Kabuga? Rwandan genocide kingpin arrested in France on May 28, 2020 Link