The Lake Countries Rwanda, Burundi

Objectives Label Rwanda and Burundi on a blank map of Africa. Identify the two main ethnic groups in these two countries. Describe what took place between these two ethnic groups in 1994.

Terms and People Lake Victoria is Genocide is Hutu are Tutsi are

The Lake Countries of East Africa lie inland from the Indian Ocean. These are called the Great Lakes of Africa. These two small countries are home to the Hutu and Tutsi tribes.

Above Underneath

Rwanda and Burundi have great natural beauty.

Rwanda is the home habitat of the endangered mountain gorilla.

The population of Rwanda and Burundi make up about 16% of East Africa. Three tribes make up almost all the population of among these two nations. The Tutsi are taller with long noses. They were the second most populous group. The Hutu were the majority group, with wider noses. The Twa are short and make up only a small minority. When Rwanda was a Belgian colony, the Belgians favored the Tutsi, and the Tutsi oppressed the Hutu. When the Belgians left in 1962, the Hutu came to power. Now they turned it around and oppressed the Tutsi.

Many Tutsi fled to nearby nations. There, the Tutsi got weapons and trained to retake their country. The Hutu remained in control of Rwanda. In April of 1994, Tutsi rebels shot down the plane carrying the presidents of both Rwanda and Burundi.

The army, the police, and a militia called the Interahamwe went on a killing spree. The United Nations was present, but was ordered not to interfere.

Tutsis fled. The Hutu were not far behind.

About three quarters of a million people were killed, mostly with machetes.

When the Tutsi gained control, many Hutu civilians fled the country, fearing revenge. Many of them died in refugee camps due to poor water and sanitation. Now the United Nations and other countries helped, giving food and medicine to the very people that had caused the massacre.

Several films had been made recounting the event.

Today, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi are poor with poor health.

Which country is Rwanda? A B C D A B C D Which country is Burundi? A B C D Which group was the largest in Rwanda and Burundi and seized control when the Dutch left? Masaai Hutu Tutsi Kikuyu Which group was second largest, had power while the Belgians colonized Rwanda, and were slaughtered by the Hutus? Masaai Twa Tutsi Kikuyu

Please Read: “The Rwandan Genocide.” The History Channel.

Please Read: “Children of Rwanda’s Genocide.” New York Times. world/africa/index-rwanda- children.html world/africa/index-rwanda- children.html