The History of the Rwandan Genocide:
How did the conflict start?
The conflict started when europeans can to Rwanda and colonized. The europeans then made the difference of Hutus and Tutsis; the Twa was another small group. After Germany lost their colonies post WWI, the Belgians then took over the area giving identity cards to the different groups. On April 6, 1994 the Hutu president of Rwanda was flying back from Tanzania when his plane was shot down. After the president’s death, reform was made to reduce the power given to to the Hutus. A group of Hutu extremists were very unhappy with this. A day after the president had been killed the Hutu group blamed the Tutsis and the massacre began.
The conflict started when europeans can to Rwanda and colonized. The europeans then made the difference of Hutus and Tutsis; the Twa was another small group. After Germany lost their colonies post WWI, the Belgians then took over the area giving identity cards to the different groups. On April 6, 1994 the Hutu president of Rwanda was flying back from Tanzania when his plane was shot down. After the president’s death, reform was made to reduce the power given to to the Hutus. A group of Hutu extremists were very unhappy with this. A day after the president had been killed the Hutu group blamed the Tutsis and the massacre began.
Main Events:
The 100 Days of Slaughter
The 100 days of slaughter can be described as 100 days where the Hutus slaughtered the Tutsis while the rest of the world just watched.
Slaughters in Churches, Hospitals, and Schools
In a catholic church 60 miles east of where the conflict started, Kigali, thousands of Tutsis were slaughtered. These Tutsis were ensured safety in church, but the doors of the church couldn’t stop the hatred of the Hutus. It took two days for the Hutus using machetes and clubs to kill everyone inside the church.
Corpses
Hutus demanded the Tutsis couldn’t be buried, so the corpses were left where they had been killed. Corpses were also thrown along roads and tossed in rivers.
The 100 Days of Slaughter
The 100 days of slaughter can be described as 100 days where the Hutus slaughtered the Tutsis while the rest of the world just watched.
Slaughters in Churches, Hospitals, and Schools
In a catholic church 60 miles east of where the conflict started, Kigali, thousands of Tutsis were slaughtered. These Tutsis were ensured safety in church, but the doors of the church couldn’t stop the hatred of the Hutus. It took two days for the Hutus using machetes and clubs to kill everyone inside the church.
Corpses
Hutus demanded the Tutsis couldn’t be buried, so the corpses were left where they had been killed. Corpses were also thrown along roads and tossed in rivers.
Maps With Descriptions:
The genocide started in Kigali, in red, the capital city of Rwanda.
The small country highlighted in yellow is Rwanda.
Map of locations of the first FDLR attack in Rwanda on RDF positions ar Moti and Kabehanga on 27 November (provided to the group by the Government of Rwanda)
FDLR: The Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda
FDLR: The Democratic Forces for Liberation of Rwanda
Timeline:
1894 Germany colonised Rwanda.
1918 The Belgians assume control of Rwanda.
1933 The Belgians organize a census and mandate that everyone be issued an identity card classifying them as either Tutsi, Hutu, or Twa.
December 9, 1948 The United Nations passes a resolution which both defines genocide and declares it a crime under international law.
1959 A Hutu rebellion begins against the Tutsis and Belgians.
January 1961 The Tutsi monarchy is abolished.
July 1, 1962 Rwanda gains its independence.
1973 Juvénal Habyarimana takes control of Rwanda in a bloodless coup.
1988 The RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) is created in Uganda.
1989 World coffee prices plummet. This significantly affects Rwanda's economy because coffee was one of its major cash crops.
1990 The RPF invade Rwanda, starting a civil war.
July 8, 1993 RTLM (Radio Télévison des Milles Collines) begins broadcasting and spreading hate.
April 7, 1994 Hutu extremists begin killing their political opponents.
April 9, 1994 Massacre at Gikondo - hundreds of Tutsis are killed in the Pallottine Missionary Catholic Church. Since the killers were clearly targeting only Tutsi, the Gikondo massacre was the first clear sign that a genocide was occurring.
April 15-16, 1994 Massacre at the Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church - thousands of Tutsi are killed, first by grenades and guns and then by machetes and clubs.
April 18, 1994 The Kibuye Massacres. An estimated 12,000 Tutsis are killed after sheltering at the Gatwaro stadium in Gitesi. Another 50,000 are killed in the hills of Bisesero. More are killed in the town's hospital and church.
April 28-29 Approximately 250,000 people, mostly Tutsi, flee to neighboring Tanzania.
May 23, 1994 The RPF takes control of the presidential palace.
July 5, 1994 The French establish a safe zone in the southwest corner of Rwanda.
July 13, 1994 Approximately one million people, mostly Hutu, begin fleeing to Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
mid-July 1994 The Rwandan Genocide ends when the RPF gains control of the country.
1918 The Belgians assume control of Rwanda.
1933 The Belgians organize a census and mandate that everyone be issued an identity card classifying them as either Tutsi, Hutu, or Twa.
December 9, 1948 The United Nations passes a resolution which both defines genocide and declares it a crime under international law.
1959 A Hutu rebellion begins against the Tutsis and Belgians.
January 1961 The Tutsi monarchy is abolished.
July 1, 1962 Rwanda gains its independence.
1973 Juvénal Habyarimana takes control of Rwanda in a bloodless coup.
1988 The RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) is created in Uganda.
1989 World coffee prices plummet. This significantly affects Rwanda's economy because coffee was one of its major cash crops.
1990 The RPF invade Rwanda, starting a civil war.
July 8, 1993 RTLM (Radio Télévison des Milles Collines) begins broadcasting and spreading hate.
April 7, 1994 Hutu extremists begin killing their political opponents.
April 9, 1994 Massacre at Gikondo - hundreds of Tutsis are killed in the Pallottine Missionary Catholic Church. Since the killers were clearly targeting only Tutsi, the Gikondo massacre was the first clear sign that a genocide was occurring.
April 15-16, 1994 Massacre at the Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church - thousands of Tutsi are killed, first by grenades and guns and then by machetes and clubs.
April 18, 1994 The Kibuye Massacres. An estimated 12,000 Tutsis are killed after sheltering at the Gatwaro stadium in Gitesi. Another 50,000 are killed in the hills of Bisesero. More are killed in the town's hospital and church.
April 28-29 Approximately 250,000 people, mostly Tutsi, flee to neighboring Tanzania.
May 23, 1994 The RPF takes control of the presidential palace.
July 5, 1994 The French establish a safe zone in the southwest corner of Rwanda.
July 13, 1994 Approximately one million people, mostly Hutu, begin fleeing to Zaire (now called the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
mid-July 1994 The Rwandan Genocide ends when the RPF gains control of the country.