Causes of the Rwandan Genocide Of 1994

 Once, Hutus and Tutsis lived in harmony in Central Africa. About 600 years ago, Tutsis, a tall, warrior people, moved south from Ethiopia. Though much smaller in number, they conquered the Hutus, who agreed to raise crops for them in return for protection.

 Belgian Colony  Favored Tutsis - taller, longer necks, slimmer noses, more European  Tutsis become elite minority(15%)  Tutsi Monarchy  Hutus become oppressed majority (85%)

 Independence 1962  end of colonialism,  Rwanda becomes a republic with a Hutu majority  Incidents of revenge, Hutus attacking Tutsis  But, most live in peace  Intermarriage, etc.

1973 Coup Defense Minister Habyarimana seizes power in a military coup. Promotes Hutu Power to justify his dicatorship. But most Rwandans continue to identify themselves as “Mixed” in Census Polls.

 1979 RPF Rwandan Patriotic Front  Tutsi rebels  1990 they invade Rwanda  President agrees to power sharing arrangement  Interhamwe - Hutu militia  Secretly funded by military  Allowed to run wild Rwandan Army - Funded by France

Militant Hutu leaders fear losing power to RPF. Whip up old suspicions and hatreds. Exploit Hutu identity for political gain.

 Arusha Accords between the Rwandan government and the RPF was brokered by the UN  April 6, On his return from signing in Tanzania, the Rwandan presidents plane is shot down.  Tutsi rebels (RPF) are blamed. But could have been Interhame or the military  Trigger cause for the genocide.  “Cut the tall trees”

800,000 to 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus Were systematically killed By the Hutus

-The UN appeared largely detached from the realities on the ground. - Focus on evacuating only foreign nationals from Rwanda -Belgian peacekeepers forced to abandon a technical school filled with 2,000 refugees, while Hutu militants waited outside, drinking beer and chanting " Hutu Power." Hutu Power -After the Belgians left, the militants entered the school and massacred those inside, including hundreds of children. ?

 UNAMIR - UN African Mission for Rwanda  Ignores abuses of Hutu gov’t  Peacekeepers can’t shoot  Intervention Force focuses on protecting foreign nationals  Troops w/drawn after 10 Belgians killed

 "I still believe that if an organisation decided to wipe out the 320 mountain gorillas there would be still more of a reaction by the international community…than in attempting to protect thousands of human beings being slaughtered in the same country.” Dallaire

July 1994  America Still reeling from BHD  Reluctant to commit ground troops

 Hutus Flee Rwanda  World community reaches out to aid them  UN Refugee Camps controlled by Hutu militants

Rwanda Today Books and Beyond Program Rwandan Schools form partnership with a school in New Jersey English replaces French in classrooms

PRESIDENT KAGAM E 2000 to Present Tutsi RPF Leader of liberation forces Critical of Western Response to Genocide Believes in Capitalism and Free Markets Rwanda Economic success story, but little political freedom