1. Rwanda – a small nation in Sub-Saharan, Central Africa

2. Rwanda: before and during imperialism
2 ethnic groups lived in Rwanda
Hutus (majority) and Tutsis (minority)
Hutus were Bantu peoples of West Africa
Tutsis were from North Africa, and they were in charge of the Hutu, who were peasant farmers
Germany colonized Rwanda, but during WWI ( ), Belgium took over
The Belgians gave better jobs and roles to Tutsis minority because they thought they were smarter based on how they looked

3. Hutus and Tutsis: Identity Cards
In 1933, the Belgians made an identity-card system that listed Rwandans as Hutu or Tutsi.

4. Independence!
Because the Tutsis were wealthier and more educated than the Hutus, Tutsis led the fight for independence. So the Belgians used Hutus to fight against Tutsis. Hutus killed thousands of Tutsis before Belgium gave up and let Rwanda become indedendent in 1962.
But, during the 1960s, Hutus had more power, so they stole from and mistreated Tutsis.
1,000,000 Tutsis left Rwanda, formed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and planned to invade Rwanda and overthrow the Hutus.

5. Hutus: The Hutu Power Movement
In 1990, the Rwanda Patriotic Front invaded Rwanda, and fought for 3 years against Hutus.
In 1993, the Hutu President Habyarimana signed a peace treaty which gave the Tutsis some political and military power.
5,000 U.N. peacekeepers were sent to Rwanda to keep peace between Hutus and Tutsis, but Hutu extremists did not accept peace. They started the "Hutu Power movement to convince ALL Hutus to fight ALL Tutsis.

6. 1994: Plane shot down
On April 6, 1994, Hutu President Habyarimana's plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile as it approached Kigali (the capital). We still do not know who shot down his plane
Some think it was Tutsi rebels who wanted revenge against Hutus
Others think Hutu extremists were trying to frame the Tutsis and get Hutus to fight Tutsis.
Within days, Hutu power mobs began using machetes to kill all Tutsis in Rwanda.

7. Between April and June 1994, (100 Days) an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed - most of them Tutsis.