Rwanda

Timeline to Genocide

Rwanda Genocide• The Rwandan genocide was the systematic

massacre of an estimated 1,000,000 Tutsi tribe members and moderate Hutus in Rwanda

• The killing was mostly carried out by two extremist Hutu militia groups, Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi

• The massacre lasted approximately 100 days from April to mid-July, 1994

Rwanda-History

• 3 tribes of people that inhabit Rwanda– Twa, the original inhabitants– Hutus, migrated in 1000 A.D.– Tutsi, migrated in the 14th or 15th century

Rwanda-History (Continued)• The Tutsis tribe of people gained a large dominance over the

Hutus• By the late 18th century, a single Tutsi-ruled state occupied

most of the present day Rwanda• The rule was headed by a Tutsi King who controlled the land

and gave power over the regions to the Tutsi groups• The Tutsis, in turn, dominated the Hutus, who had the

majority of the population-The population of Rwanda was :– 75% Hutu– 20% Tutsi– 5% Twa

Rwanda 1890

• In 1890, Rwanda accepted German rule without resistance and became part of the German East Africa

• Germany issued almost no rule over the affairs of the country and initiated no economic development

• Tutsis still ruled the country

Rwanda 1916-1919

• During WW1 (1916), Belgian forces occupied Rwanda

• In 1919 it became part of the Belgian League of Nations

• Social Structure was not altered• Christian missionary work of converting

the locals to Roman Catholicism was undertaken

Rwanda 1933• Before the Belgian rule, Hutus and Tutsis

lived together as neighbors• When the Belgians took power in Rwanda,

they gave political power to the Tutsis• Eugenics movement began-Scientists came

and looked for differences between the Hutus and Tutsis

• Tutsis were considered to have Caucasian ancestry (through lighter skin, larger skulls) and therefore were ‘superior’ to Hutus

Rwanda 1933 (continued)• One of the major contributing factors to the split of ethnic groups was the creation

of group classification on ID cards in 1933

• The Belgian government introduced a rigid racial concept of group identity where it had not previously existed-the ID cards now stated if the individual was Twa, Hutu or Tutsi

• Another important factor was the repeated decision by the Rwandan Government (after independence in 1962) to retain the group classifications on ID cards

Rwanda 1933-1956

• The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis

• Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status and exploited their power over the Hutu majority

• Created a resentment of the Tutsis by the Hutu people

Rwanda 1959

• The Hutus felt that the new king had not been chosen democratically and fighting broke out between the Hutus and the Tutsis (who were aided by the Twa)

• The Hutus emerged victorious, and some 100,000 Tutsis, including the king at the time fled the country

Rwanda 1960 -1962

• Hutu political parties won the election in 1960, and they named a new prime minister

• In 1961, a republic was proclaimed, and Belgium granted independence to Rwanda on July 1, 1962.

• Ethnic Identification was kept on ID cards in Rwanda

Rwanda 1962-1972

• Grégoire Kayibanda was elected as the first president and stayed in power until 1972

• During this time, there were many battles between the Tutsis who had fled to neighboring countries and the Hutus in Rwanda

Rwanda 1973-1988

• In July of 1973, a moderate Hutu military group toppled the government

• A new constitution was created and the General of the military group was elected president of Rwanda

• Due to continued fighting, over 50,000 refugees fled from Rwanda to Burundi during this period

Rwanda 1990-1993

• In 1990, Rwanda was invaded from Uganda by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), made up mainly of Tutsi refugees. The invasion was unsuccessful, but the president of Rwanda agreed to share the power of the country

• In 1993, a power-sharing agreement was signed between Hutus and Tutsis

Rwanda 1994

• In April 1994, the president of Rwanda and the president of Burundi were killed in a suspicious plane crash

• Civil strife erupted on a massive scale• Rwandan soldiers and Hutu gangs

slaughtered an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 people, mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus

Rwanda Today

• Rwanda is struggling to heal and rebuild• It is showing signs of rapid development• Many Hutu members have returned to

Rwanda• The government has promoted

reconciliation and economic development

BBC Media Presentation

• Click on the following link:

• Warning-some images may be disturbing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3594187.stm

Rwanda Topics

• A report on the response from the rest of the world to the situation in Rwanda from 1994 to now

• A report on the steps taken by Rwanda to prevent a genocide from ever happening again

• A report on the steps taken/not taken in regards to the conflict in Darfur-relate what is happening in Darfur to the events in Rwanda

• A report on the changes in regards to women in Rwanda and how their roles in society have changed since 1994

• A report on how Rwanda will look in 2044 (50 years after the genocide). This timeline will describe how the country has reconciled with its past based on how far they have come to date. Use other examples (Germany) as models of how to overcome such tragedies