David P. Rawson
American diplomat (1941–2020)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Paul Rawson (September 10, 1941 – September 16, 2020)[1] was an American diplomat who served as the United States ambassador to Rwanda and Mali, and as chargé d'affaires in Somalia.[2] His service in Rwanda occurred during the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.
American University (M.A., PhD)
David Rawson | |
|---|---|
David Rawson in February 1997 | |
| Born | David Paul Rawson September 10, 1941 |
| Died | September 16, 2020 (aged 79) |
| Education | Malone College (B.A.) American University (M.A., PhD) |
| Occupations | Diplomat, Professor |
Early life and education
Rawson was born in Addison, Michigan as the son of missionaries. In 1947 he moved to Burundi with his parents, where his father ran a medical clinic.[3]
In 1958, Rawson returned to the United States and attended Malone College (B.A.) and American University (M.A. and Ph.D.).[4] After completing his Ph.D., he returned to Malone College and taught for six years before joining the United States Department of State.[3] Rawson also received a postdoctoral grant to investigate the relationship between the political situation and religious culture in the countries of Rwanda and Burundi.[5]
Career
From 1986 to 1988, Rawson was a deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Somalia, and from 1989-1991, he was director of the Office of West African Affairs within the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs.[5]
From 1993 to 1996, Rawson served as U.S. ambassador to Rwanda, a nation then experiencing ethnic tensions between the Hutus and Tutsis. When the plane of Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was shot down, the Hutus blamed it on the Tutsis, leading to a genocide between April and July 1994. The United States government ordered American officials, including Rawson, to leave the country.[3]
After the Rwandan Patriotic Front took control of the government in July 1994, Rawson returned to his post in Kigali.[3] Rawson later stated, however, that he believed he failed in his role as a peacemaker during his tenure as ambassador.[6]
From 1996 to 1999, Rawson served as U.S. ambassador to Mali.[2]
Post-diplomatic career
After retiring from the State Department in 1999, Rawson moved to Michigan and taught at Spring Arbor University and Hillsdale College.[3]
After 2018, Rawson lived in Oregon and taught at George Fox University.[3] He donated his personal archives to the university, including declassified documents used in the research of his book Prelude to Genocide: Arusha, Rwanda, and the Failure of Diplomacy.[5]
Personal life
Rawson's first wife Viola Mosher died in an automobile accident in 1977.[7][8] He was in the vehicle at the time of the crash and stated that this incident was the "most trying circumstance" of his life".[7]
Rawson was a Christian.[4][7] Rawson lived in Newberg, Oregon until his death on September 16, 2020.[8]