Rwandan Genocide
“The Scramble for Africa”
• European colonists believed that since the Tutsi migrated to Rwanda
from Ethiopia, they were more “Caucasian” than the Hutu and were
therefore racially superior and better suited to carry out colonial
administrative tasks.
• Belgian forces took control of Rwanda during World War I, and the
country was formally passed to Belgian control by a League of Nations
mandate in 1919.
Belgian Rule
• In the 1930s, the Belgians introduced large-scale projects in
education, health, public works, and agricultural supervision.
• The country was thus modernized but Tutsi supremacy remained,
leaving the Hutu disenfranchised and subject to large scale forced
labor.
• In 1935, Belgium introduced identity cards labelling each individual as
either Tutsi or Hutu.
Post WWII
• After World War II, a Hutu emancipation movement began to grow in
Rwanda which eventually lead to the Rwandan Revolution of 19591961.
• This revolution contributed to Rwandan Independence (from Belgian
Control in 1962) with the creation of a Hutu majority “Republican”
Government.
Rwandan Genocide (1994)
• The mass slaughter of Tutsi and moderate Hutu peoples in Rwanda by
members of the Hutu majority.
• During the approximate 100-day period from April 7, 1994 to midJuly, an estimated 500,000–1,000,000 Rwandans were killed,
• Constituting as much as 20% of the country's total population and
70% of the Tutsi’s then living in Rwanda.
Rwandan Genocide Cont. (1994)
• The genocide was planned by
members of the core political elite
known as the Akazu, many of whom
occupied positions at top levels of the
national government.
• Perpetrators came from the ranks of
the Rwandan army, the National
Police, government-backed militias
including the Interahamwe, and the
Hutu civilian population.
“Cut the Tall Trees”
• In Hotel Rwanda, Georges
Rutaganda says "Cut the tall trees.
Cut the tall trees now!" The Hutu
Power radio station begins
broadcasting this prearranged code.
• It means begin exterminating the
Tutsis.
Paul Rusesabagina (Hutu)
attempts to rescue his fellow
citizens from the ravages of
the Rwandan Genocide.
His wife, Tatiana
is Tutsi.
• Georges Rutaganda a friendly goods supplier to the hotel who is also
the local leader of Interahamwe, a brutal anti-Tutsi militia.
• The UN Peacekeeping forces, led by Canadian Colonel Oliver are
unable to take “assertive action” against the Interahamwe since they
are forbidden to intervene in the genocide.