The Rwandan Genocide

Genocide Definition: Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious or national group.

Elements of Genocide Five acts: Five acts: Killing members of the group Killing members of the group Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group

Genocide Convention 1948 Obligates the countries that sign the treaty to intervene to stop genocide when it is occurring. Obligates the countries that sign the treaty to intervene to stop genocide when it is occurring.

East Africa

Rwanda: Key Facts Size: Comparable to state of Maryland Population: 10 million Capital: Kigali

Rwanda: Brief History Assigned to Germany as a result of the Berlin Conference Belgium takes control of the colony (result of Germany ’ s loss in WWI) Rwanda gains independence Rwanda ’ s President killed in a plane crash; the Rwandan Genocide occurs

COLONIALISM The Berlin Conference to settle competing claims among Europeans. Africans not invited For the Europeans, colonization expanded their empires, brought in resources, and had the high- minded goal of “ civilizing the savages. ”

By 1914, Africa Was Fully Partitioned Ethiopia and Liberia remained uncolonized. Liberia was settled by freed American slaves. Ethiopia successfully fought off Italian colonizers. Rwanda was a colony of Germany in 1914.

Can you identify the problem colonization caused? Africa in 1914

Yep… the Europeans grouped together different people, ethnicities, tribes, languages, etc. into larger colonies. Many of these groups were not only very different from each other, but also didn ’ t get along well. Some were mortal enemies who were kept from each other ’ s throats only because of the colonial powers. In some cases, conflict among groups was encouraged by the colonial powers. When colonialism ended, these colonies became independent countries. It was a recipe for conflict and has contributed to some of the problems in Africa today.

There were two main tribes there: the Hutus (about 85% of the population) and the Tutsis (about 14% of the population). A third group, the Twa, made up about 1% of the population Rwanda is an example of these problems:

Historically Historically, Tutsis generally higher class and herdsmen and Hutus generally farmers. But some movement between classes Historically, Tutsis generally higher class and herdsmen and Hutus generally farmers. But some movement between classes If a Hutu became wealthy, they would become part of Tutsi group and vice-versa If a Hutu became wealthy, they would become part of Tutsi group and vice-versa

Conflicts The Germans -- and later the Belgians – gave preference to the Tutsis and made sure the Tutsis were in charge. This built more resentment among the Hutus and intensified ethnic conflicts.

Belgian authorities considered the Hutus and Tutsis different races, and in introduced identity cards labeling each individual as either Tutsi or Hutu. This classification was often based arbitrarily on physical characteristics; borderline cases were decided on cattle ownership with those owning ten or more cattle labeled Tutsi and others as Hutu. Divide and Conquer

Tensions increased Late 1950s: Hutus rebel against the Belgian colonial power and Tutsi elite. Some Tutsis killed. Many flee to Burundi. Late 1950s: Hutus rebel against the Belgian colonial power and Tutsi elite. Some Tutsis killed. Many flee to Burundi Rwanda becomes independent. About 120,000 Tutsis take refuge in neighboring states because of violence 1962 Rwanda becomes independent. About 120,000 Tutsis take refuge in neighboring states because of violence

Tensions continue Back and forth violence between Hutus and Tutsis over next couple of decades. Back and forth violence between Hutus and Tutsis over next couple of decades. By end of the 1980s, almost 500,000 Rwandans had become refugees By end of the 1980s, almost 500,000 Rwandans had become refugees

Rwandan Patriotic Front 1986 founded in Uganda to reform Rwandan government and allow refugees back 1986 founded in Uganda to reform Rwandan government and allow refugees back Mainly composed of Tutsi refugees Mainly composed of Tutsi refugees 1990 launched major attack 1990 launched major attack 1993 peace agreements signed that allows refugees to return and a coalition Hutu-RPF government peace agreements signed that allows refugees to return and a coalition Hutu-RPF government UN troops deployed to help 2500 UN troops deployed to help

Militias Sept 1993-March 1994 training of militias intensifies Sept 1993-March 1994 training of militias intensifies Extremist radio station starts broadcasting to attack Tutsis Extremist radio station starts broadcasting to attack Tutsis

Plane Crash April 6, 1994 plane crashes due to a rocket attack killing presidents of both Burundi and Rwanda April 6, 1994 plane crashes due to a rocket attack killing presidents of both Burundi and Rwanda April 7: radio broadcast attributes the rocket attack to the Rwanda Patriotic Front and incites people to kill the “Tutsi cockroach” April 7: radio broadcast attributes the rocket attack to the Rwanda Patriotic Front and incites people to kill the “Tutsi cockroach”

Prime Minister Killed Prime Minister and 10 Belgian peacekeeping forces murdered Prime Minister and 10 Belgian peacekeeping forces murdered

In 1994, the genocide began. Hutu militias rounded up all the Tutsis they could find. From April 6 th to mid-July, more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. Think about that… over 3/4 of a million people murdered in just 3 months. Many were killed by neighbors who either hated the Tutsis or were afraid the militias would kill them if they didn ’ t attack Tutsis. Many Tutsis were hacked to death by machetes. Others were forced into churches or other buildings and massacred. The Genocide

Studies of the Rwandan genocide suggest most of the victims were killed by machete or by clubs; only about 15% were killed by gunfire. The Genocide was brutal, it was deliberate, and it killed about 10% of all the people (men, women and children) in Rwanda. This isn ’ t ancient history. It ’ s not even WWII. This was just 20 years ago. You were almost alive when it happened. The Genocide

Powersharing = Rwandan government in which power is shared between Hutus and Tutsis RPF = Rwandan Patriotic Front = A militia that eventually brought an end to the Hutu-led genocide. Current ruling party of Rwanda U.N. Convention on Genocide = United Nations declaration that established genocide as a war crime International Criminal Tribunal = An international court held following the Rwandan genocide to try those responsible Important Terms

After Jigsaw What struck you most from these readings? What struck you most from these readings?

After Jigsaw Questions? Questions?

Lessons What can we learn from the genocide in Rwanda? What can we learn from the genocide in Rwanda?

DARFUR From 2003 – 2010 several hundred thousand people were killed in Darfur (southwest Sudan) largely based on their ethnicity What lessons have we learned from the genocide in Rwanda? How could another genocide be perpetrated in the same continent just a few years after the events of 1994 in Rwanda? What can we do to prevent another genocide?