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