1. Rwanda The Historical Narrative

2. Essential Questions Why does genocide happen? Why does genocide happen? When, if ever, do we have a responsibility to intervene when we learn of peoples suffering in humanitarian crises such as genocide? When, if ever, do we have a responsibility to intervene when we learn of peoples suffering in humanitarian crises such as genocide? How can we prevent genocide from happening again? How can we prevent genocide from happening again?

3. Topic Questions Why did genocide happen in Rwanda? Was it inevitable? Why did genocide happen in Rwanda? Was it inevitable? To what extent did the legacy of colonialism play a role? To what extent did the legacy of colonialism play a role? What should the United States have done, or not done, during the genocide? What should the United States have done, or not done, during the genocide?

4. Genocide “geno” = race/tribe “geno” = race/tribe “cide” = killing “cide” = killing the systematic killing of an entire group of people the systematic killing of an entire group of people

6. Land of a Thousand Hills Terrace farming everywhere … so few flat areas that they have to use the hills Photo Credits: Katie Leonberger’s 2006 Trip

7. Typical Kigali hillside covered with houses Views from the highway heading from Kigali to Ruhengeri, a town located on Rwanda’s northwest border

8. Fields of corn and banana trees Lakeside banana plantation

9. Lakes too

10. Pre-Colonial History Small clusters of people drifted into Rwanda: Small clusters of people drifted into Rwanda: 1. Twa (1% of pop.) 2. Hutus & Tutsis

11. Pre-Colonial History Rwandan state developed—elite evolved Rwandan state developed—elite evolved TUTSIHUTU - elite - masses - elite - masses - cattle herders - farmers - cattle herders - farmers - minority - majority - minority - majority - 13% - 86% - 13% - 86%

12. Colonial History 1863: John Hanning Speke’s “Hamitic hypothesis” 1863: John Hanning Speke’s “Hamitic hypothesis” 1894: 1 st European enters Rwanda (von Götzen) 1894: 1 st European enters Rwanda (von Götzen) Late 1890s-1919: German colony Late 1890s-1919: German colony indirect rule indirect rule decent relations decent relations

13. Colonial History 1919: ceded to Belgium 1919: ceded to Belgium “race science” affirms Hamitic hypothesis “race science” affirms Hamitic hypothesis exploit Hutus: no gov’t. jobs, no university, etc. exploit Hutus: no gov’t. jobs, no university, etc. 1933-1934: “ethnic” 1933-1934: “ethnic” ID cards

14. Colonial History 1959: Hutu revolution 1959: Hutu revolution spark: Hutu political activist beaten up by Tutsis spark: Hutu political activist beaten up by Tutsis overthrew Tutsi elite overthrew Tutsi elite killed 20,000 Tutsi … 300,000 into exile killed 20,000 Tutsi … 300,000 into exile 1960: Belgians switch allegiances – empower Hutus 1960: Belgians switch allegiances – empower Hutus 1962: independence 1962: independence

15. 1960s -1980s ongoing: attacks by exiled Tutsis & Hutu massacres of Tutsis ongoing: attacks by exiled Tutsis & Hutu massacres of Tutsis ex. 1963-64: 14,000 Tutsi dead (Dec. 24-28, 1 province alone); 250,000 Tutsis flee ex. 1963-64: 14,000 Tutsi dead (Dec. 24-28, 1 province alone); 250,000 Tutsis flee anti-Tutsi policies: anti-Tutsi policies: official pop. made 9% (vs. 13) official pop. made 9% (vs. 13) quota system: restricted access to edu., public employment, military quota system: restricted access to edu., public employment, military

16. 1960s -1980s 1973: Juvenal Habyarimana seizes power (Hutu) 1973: Juvenal Habyarimana seizes power (Hutu) quota system remains but relative peace quota system remains but relative peace Oct. 1990: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) attacks from Uganda Oct. 1990: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) attacks from Uganda unsuccessful … France helps unsuccessful … France helps Rwandan gov’t. gives excuse to attack Tutsis gives excuse to attack Tutsis RPF carries on guerrilla war RPF carries on guerrilla war Pres. Habyarimana (1973-1994)

17. 1993: Arusha Accords peace talks to end war (RPF vs. Rwanda) peace talks to end war (RPF vs. Rwanda) supported by Western Powers supported by Western Powers power-sharing agreement power-sharing agreement UN peacekeepers deployed (UNAMIR) UN peacekeepers deployed (UNAMIR)

18. April 6, 1994: Plane Shot Down Burundi pres. and Habyarimana are killed Burundi pres. and Habyarimana are killed within hours… within hours… genocide begins

19. The Genocide 100 days (April-July) 100 days (April-July) 800,000 dead (UN est.) 800,000 dead (UN est.) victims: Tutsis & moderate Hutus victims: Tutsis & moderate Hutus interahamwe interahamwe “cockroaches” “cockroaches” Radio Milles Collines Radio Milles Collines A genocide memorial at Nyamata church outside Kigali