#10 - The Rwandan Genocide A Civil War Between the Hutus and the Tutsis

Genocide Between April and June of 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans, from the group known as Tutsis, were killed in the span of 100 days.

Who are the Hutus & Tutsis Two groups of people that settled in present day Rwanda close to 2000 years ago. Tutsis may have migrated from Ethiopia. United: Developed a single language (Kinyarwanda) One set of religious and philosophical beliefs.

Working Together The Hutus and Tutsis farmed and raised livestock. Fertile soil and regular rain: Soon most densely populated in Africa.

1700s Rwanda is powerful. Wealth measured in cattle. A Division Begins 1700s Rwanda is powerful. Wealth measured in cattle. Tutsi were “rich in cattle”. They were the elite and ruling class. Hutu had less livestock and less power.

Hutus vs. Tutsis The Hutus - majority – Considered commoners. The Tutsis minority – Considered the elite class Tutsi – 14% Hutu – 85%

Physical Appearance Hutus and Tutsis did not usually intermarry. Each developed distinctive features. The Tutsis tall, thin, with narrow features, and fair skin. The Hutus shorter, stronger, with broader features, and darker skin.

This is a picture from the movie Hotel Rwanda This is a picture from the movie Hotel Rwanda. The man on the right, plays a Hutu character. The woman on the left, plays a Tutsi character.

Colonization Continued After WWI, Germany lost Rwanda. Belgium took control.

Belgium Brings Further Division Belgium exploited the class system. Tutsis enjoyed privileges and western education

Why favor Tutsis? Tutsis appeared more European Tall, slender features. Hutus appeared less European.

Identification Cards Laws gave special privileges to the Tutsi ID cards distinguish who is who.

No proof of ethnicity? Belgians would simply measure your physical features. More European = Tutsi. More African = Hutu.

Belgium Leaves In the 1960’s Belgium out of Rwanda. Hutus win elections. Rwanda and Burundi split into two different countries. Tutsis’ flee

Tutsi Exclusion in 70s and 80s Hutu government policy excludes Tutsi Barred from best universities Barred from many jobs

Negotiations – Aug. 1993 President Habyarimana (a Hutu President) and the RPF. sign a peace accord that calls for a return of Tutsi refugees. 2,500 United Nations troops deploy to Kigali to oversee the peace accord.

GENOCIDE…

April 6, 1994 Plane carrying President Habyarimana and Burundi president , Cyprien Ntaryamira, is shot down. No one knows who shot down the president’s plane. That night… the genocide begins.

April 7, 1994 Extremist radio station, Radio Mille Collines: “it is time for us to cut down the tall trees.” 10 Belgian soldiers and the moderate Hutu PM are tortured and killed.

The Genocide The Hutu militia, 30,000 strong, slaughtered any Tutsi they could find. They encouraged Hutu civilians to do the same. Hutus were forced to kill their Tutsi neighbors. Some moderate Hutu were also slaughtered.

The Death Toll In the span of 100 days, an estimated 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered. They were killed primarily with knives, machetes, and clubs. 100,000 of these were children.

Where was the help? No country sent troops.

April 30, 1994 U.N. Security Council condemning the killing, but omits the word "genocide.“ Why? Had the term been used, the U.N. would have been legally obliged to act to "prevent and punish" the perpetrators.

An End to the Genocide In July, 1994 the RPF captured the city of Kigali. The Hutu government collapsed. RPF declared a cease-fire. 1½ - 2 million Hutu fled to Rep. of Congo

Justice for Genocide Rwanda seeks justice for the murder of close to a million people. Many have been found guilty of war crimes. 500 have been executed for their war crimes. 100,000 are still in prison

Another African Genocide 2003 – President Bashir of Sudan began a war against non-Arab peoples in the region of Darfur

Works Cited Human Rights Watch Publications “Leave None to Tell the Story: Genocide in Rwanda” http://www.hrw.org/reports/1999/rwanda/Geno1-3-09.htm#P200_83746 BBC News “Rwanda: How a Genocide Happened” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1288230.stm PBS Frontline “Timeline Rwanda: A Chronology of Key Events” http://pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/rwanda/etc/cron.html