Genocide in Rwanda 1994In 2008 BBC reported that “between April and June 1994, an estimated 800,000 Rwandans were killed in the space of 100 days” How is it that two ethnic groups such as the Hutus and Tutsis which are so similar they speak the same language, live
the same areas and even follow the same traditions can be at such odds? The death of the Hutu, Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana on April 6th, 1994 sparked the genocide, however ethnic tension had existed in Rwanda long before the incident. The division between the Hutus and Tutsis grew considerably in 1916 after Belgian colonists came to Rwanda and deemed Tutsis superior. About 30 years later, Hutu resentment exploded in a series of riots killing 20,000 Tutsis and causing many others to flee to neighboring countries. Once the Belgians left Rwanda in 1962 the roles were reversed. The Hutus took power and “Tutsis were portrayed as the scapegoats for every crisis”. In the years leading up to the 1994 genocide, the economic situation in Rwanda declined causing President Juvenal Habyarimana to lose popularity. Meanwhile, Paul Kagame,(current Rwandan president) was creating the Rwandan Patriotic From (RPF) consisting mainly of Tutsi refugees in Uganda and a few moderate Hutus. The goal of the group was to overthrow Habyarimana and return home to Rwanda. In the face of his current decline in popularity, President Habyarimana decided to exploit the threat of the RPF in hopes of returning dissident Hutus to his side. Consequently, Tutsis within Rwanda were being accused of supporting the RPF. In 1990 the RPF invaded Rwanda eventually resulting in a ceasefire. President Habyarimana and the RPF used this time to attempt peace negotiations. It took months before negotiations end and a peace accord was signed in August 1993. Unfortunately, tit did little to settle the general unrest and in April 1994 President Habyariman’s plane was shot down sparking the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide. |
Interahamwe |
While it was unknown at the time who shot the plane, the presidential guard in Kigali immediately initiated a campaign of retribution murdering political opposition leaders. And within hours of the crash recruits were sent out all over Rwanda carrying out a wave of slaughter. It was not long after the murders began that an unofficial militia group known as the Interahamwe (those who attack together) was mobilized, reaching 30,000 strong at its best. The horror was unimaginable and no one was safe, including Hutus. The presidential guard, radio propaganda, soldiers and police officers encouraged ordinary citizens to take part in the massacre. Incentives such as money, food or the promise of land appropriation after killing a Tutsis were often offered to civilians to make them join. However, in other cases, military personnel forced Hutu civilians to murder their Tutsis neighbors.
Sadly, the Rwandans were offered no international help and shortly after the genocide began all international agencies left Rwanda. All United Nations troops pulled out of Rwanda after the murder of ten soldiers leaving the Rwandans largely on their own. The slaughter continued until July when the RPF captured Kigali, the government collapsed and the RPF declared a ceasefire.
Sadly, the Rwandans were offered no international help and shortly after the genocide began all international agencies left Rwanda. All United Nations troops pulled out of Rwanda after the murder of ten soldiers leaving the Rwandans largely on their own. The slaughter continued until July when the RPF captured Kigali, the government collapsed and the RPF declared a ceasefire.