The Rwandan Genocide Background Information RWANDA GAINED INDEPENDENCE

The Rwandan Genocide

Background Information RWANDA GAINED INDEPENDENCE FROM BELGIUM IN 1962 n THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ARE KINYARWANDA, FRENCH AND ENGLISH n THE CAPITAL CITY IS KIGALI LOCATED IN CENTRAL RWANDA n LAND AREA ROUGHLY 26340 KM SQUARED n CURRENT 2010 POPULATION IS ROUGHLY 10, 746, 311 n ETHNIC COMPOSITION 90% HUTU, 9% TUTSI AND 1% OTHER n 47% OF THE POPULATION IS UNDER THE AGE OF 15 n

Before the Genocide Rwanda was originally ruled by Germany but later by Belgium after World War 1. n The Belgians used a “divide and conquer” strategy to rule over Rwanda. The Belgians favoured the Tutsi Minority and used them to help govern the country. n Tutsis were given privileges such as Western style education, which the Hutu Majority was excluded from. n In 1926, Belgians introduced a ethnic identification system. n

Before the Genocide contd. n In the 1950’s Educated Tutsi’s began to question Colonial rule n Belgians pulled a “turn face” in which they began to favour the Hutu majority instead of the Tutsis n In the Early 1960’s Belgium organized Elections elected Hutus to power n In 1962 Belgium Withdrew from Rwanda

n. A picture of Belgium’s former Rwanda, which broke up into Rwanda and Burundi in 1962

Before the Genocide contd. n n After independence from Belgium on July 1 st 1962, Rwanda was declared an Republic, ruled by the majority Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement, known as Parmehutu. Gregoire Kayibanda was the first president but was later ousted by Juvenal Habyarimana who ruled from 1973 -1994 In the 1980’s Tutsis who had fled Hutu ruled Rwanda and lived in Uganda began forming a rebel group, the RPF(Rwandan Patriotic Front) Habyarimana used the RPF as a way to gain support from Hutus by increasing hatred of the Tutsis

Before the Genocide contd. In 1990, the RPF invaded Rwanda and a civil war broke out against the Francophone backed Hutu Rwanda n Ethnic tensions began to increase, and the ideology that Tutsi’s wanted to enslave and murder the Hutu’s emerged n Amongst the fighting, a cease fire was ordered in 1993 n However, On April 6 th, 1994, Rwandan President Habyarimana's plane was shot down near Kigali airport, and the President Habyarimana Genocide began n

The Genocide After the death of Habyariman, instantly killings began n Agathe Uwilingiyimana took power, but was assassinated 14 hours later. n The Hutu extremist radio - RTLM, and also the state supported radio - Radio Rwanda, encouraged the mass murder of the "cockroaches". These cockroaches were Tutsis and Hutu moderates n Mass killings, organized and not, began to plague the country. n

The Genocide n n Most Victims were Killed in their own villages and towns by neighbors usually by being hacked to death by machetes. Those who did not get involved in the murders were often murdered themselves Some massacres that occurred include the massacure at Nyarubuye, where 1500 Tutsis took refuge in a church. The Interahamwe began bulldozing the church, those who tried to escape were hacked to death. Rape was also used as a weapon during the Genocide, up to 500 000 Tutsi women were raped.

The Genocide n An estimated 10 000 people were murdered each day. n An estimated 800 000 people were murdered in the course of roughly 100 days, most of whom were Tutsis. n 400 000 children were left orphans.

n Bodies found in mass graves. Some mass graves contained over 50 000 bodies.

n Bullet Holes on a school where Hutus raided and murdered hiding Tutsis

Thousands of murdered Tutsis were left to rot in ditches around Rwanda or in Rivers.

Skulls of those murdered during the Genocide at a memorial at Nayamata Church. WARNING: THE NEXT SLIDE IS VERY GRAPHIC

Decomposing bodies found by Ugandan Fishermen in Lake Victoria.

Now a memorial, this is the corner where 10 Belgian UNIMIR soldiers were murdered. The Belgians were protecting Agathe Uwilingiyimana along with 5 Ghanaian soldiers, but due to mandate were unable to fire at Rebel groups. The Ghanaian soldiers were let go but the Belgains “were castrated, gagged with their own genitalia, and then murdered. ”(Scott Peterson (2001). Me Against My Brother: At War in Somalia, Sudan and Rwanda. )

International Involvement n UN and international involvement was limited due to little national interest. n The UN and UNAMIR forces did little but witness the crimes infront of them, Infact, The U. N. withdrew many of its forces, and those remaining could do nothing. n International troops were deployed, but to evacuate foreigners only.

After the Genocide The Rwandan Patriotic front, the Tutsi rebel ground eventually took power of Rwanda and has maintained power for the past 9 years. n General Paul Kagame was the leader of the invasion in 1994, and is now the president of Rwanda. In 2003 Kagame became Rwanda’s first elected president since the genocide. Not only did he win, he received 95% of the votes n

After the Genocide Rwanda was left with a crisis amongst the children. Many of which were either orphaned or forced to join in the massacre, leaving them with haunting memories. n UNICEF has worked with the Rwandan youth to educate and help cope with the Genocide n Rwanda is also facing an Aids outbreak, greatly due to the mass Rape that occurred during the Genocide. n

After the Genocide n However, Rwanda now looks towards the future, By promoting forgiveness and tackling Economic growth, Human rights, and Environmental concerns n Rwanda is considered a success story after the genocide based on its growth and way of dealing with the Genocide

Other Facts n In the movie “Shake Hands with the Devil”, Agathe Uwilingiyimana’s house is raided, and she is infact murdered, but however, her children were able to escape, and eventually took refuge in Switzerland. n It is sometimes believed that French soldiers assisted in the Genocide through training and killings.

End n By the time you’ve gone threw this Power. Point, approximately 70 people would have been murdered. n If our class was all Tutsi’s only around 4 of us would have survived. n Of those 4 who survived, 3 of you would be women, and 2 of you would have acquired HIV from rape during the genocide.