Rwandan Genocide (1994) 800,000+ Deaths In 100 days

Rwanda is composed of three main ethnic groups: Hutu, Tutsi and Twa. Nearly 85% of the population identified as Hutu, making it the majority group in Rwanda. Tutsi comprised 14% of the population and Twa made up 1%. The colonial power, Belgium, believed that the Tutsi were superior to the Hutu and the Twa and put the Tutsis in charge of Rwanda. At the end of colonial rule, however, Belgium began giving more power to the Hutus. As the Hutus gained more leverage, they began to drive the Tutsis out of Rwanda and significantly lowered the population of Tutsis in the country.

Ethnic tensions existed in Rwanda for centuries, growing even more extreme after Rwanda gained independence from Belgium in 1962. In the 1990’s, the Hutu political elite blamed the Tutsi population for increasing political, social, and economic problems in the country. They also associated Tutsi civilians with the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) rebel group. Many Hutus resented the Tutsi, as they were typically considered the elite and had ruled the country for decades. As a result, they also feared the Tutsi and were determined to hold on to their own power.

1973: Purge of Tutsis from universities 1973: Purge of Tutsis from universities. Fresh outbreak of killings, again directed at Tutsi community. The army chief of staff, General Juvenal Habyarimana, seizes power, pledging to restore order. He sets up a one-party state. A policy of ethnic quotas is entrenched in all public service employment. Tutsis are restricted to nine percent of available jobs. Civil war broke out in Rwanda in 1990, exacerbating existing tensions between the Tutsi minority and Hutu majority. Despite the opposition forces reaching a peace agreement in 1992, political negotiations continued in attempts to achieve harmony between the Tutsis and Hutus.

On April 6th 1994, as Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana returned from a round of talks in neighboring Tanzania, he was killed when his plane was shot down outside of the country’s capital, Kigali. When President Habyarimana’s (a Hutu) plane crashed, Hutu extremists assumed it was the Tutsis who shot it down. Immediately, Hutus set out to destroy the entire Tutsi population and seek revenge on the power that had always been deemed the elite.

Following the crash, the U. S Following the crash, the U.S. Deputy Assistance Secretary of State warned of “the strong likelihood that widespread violence could break out.” The president’s death provided a spark for an organized campaign of violence against Tutsi and moderate Hutu civilians across the country. In just a matter of hours, Hutu rebels surrounded the capital and took over the streets of Kigali. Within a day, the Hutus had successfully eliminated Rwanda’s moderate leadership. As the weeks progressed, Tutsis and anyone suspected of having any ties to a Tutsi, were killed.

Detailed lists of Tutsi targets were prepared in advance and government radio stations called upon Rwandans to murder their neighbors. These specific lists included names, addresses and sometimes license plates. Through radio hate speech, people were encouraged to take the streets and exterminate those who matched the list. The radio was utilized to not only list the location of specific Tutsis to be targeted, but to also justify the genocide. Radio hosts discussed discrimination the Hutus suffered under the power of the Tutsis. Strong connotations describing Hutus as slaves during colonization painted the Rwandan genocide as a type of slave rebellion. Radio stories were used to anger the Hutus and channel that anger into action. Radio was also used to dehumanize Tutsis by calling them “cockroaches,” making acts of violence against them seem less inhumane.

In addition to the brutal mass killings, systematic rape was also widely used as a weapon of war during the Rwandan genocide. The exact number is unknown, but it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped.  It was considered another way to destroy the Tutsi ethnic group, through both the emotional pain (so the woman could “die of sadness”), and through the health problems that would be a result. Often times, women did not even have to succumb to the aftermath of rape as they were often immediately killed right after.

Classification Hutu v. Tutsis and Hutu moderates

Symbolization Physical Differences: Tutsis were taller, slighter with narrower noses and slightly lighter skin Tribal cards identifying Hutu and Tutsis Hutu militia (Interhamwe) wore brightly coloured clothing

Discrimination The foundation of Rwandan society was built on the division between the Tutsis and Hutus. Hutus were in power and were seen as better than the Tutsis Soldiers, police and ordinary citizens were encouraged to terrorize the Tutsis.

Dehumanization Tutsis were referred to as “cockroaches”; “tall trees” that needed to be cut down Tutsis and Hutu were made to kill even their Tutsis neighbours Attractive Tutsis women were enslaved for sexual gratification by militia

Organization Hutus militia called the Interhamwe were supplied and secretly trained by the Rwandan army Hutu extremists drew up death lists of prominent opposition figures, both Tutsis and Hutu

Polarization Prior to 1962 the Tutsis minority were considered the aristocracy and dominated Hutu peasants for decades Blamed the Tutsi rebels for killing their President (Habyalimana) Used radio stations to promote hatred against Tutsis (propaganda) – called them all “rebel spies”

Preparation Lists drawn up of prominent Tutsis and moderate Hutu politicians if and when the opportunity would arise to start killing Broadcasting non-stop hate radio telling Hutu to prepare for their moment of attack Attacks on UN troops to force them out of Rwanda

Persecution Tutsis were separated using their identity cards, and were targeted by groups of Hutus. Houses were burned and every street and neighbourhood was a place of terror.

Extermination Indiscriminate killing by Hutu militia by machete, clubs, guns and grenades Genocidal mania killing all Tutsis men, women and children

Denial Hutu militia and Rwandan army called it a civil war Both the UN and U.S. carefully refrained from labelling the killings as genocide Use of codes over the radio to instigate killings