Rwandan Genocide

Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide was a mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority government. Between April and July 1994, an estimated 800,000 to 1,000,000 Rwandans were killed, constituting as much as 70% of the Tutsi population. Additionally, 30% of the Pygmy Batwa were killed. The genocide was orchestrated by the national government and perpetrated by both government forces and militias such as the Interahamwe.

Background

The genocide took place in the context of the Rwandan Civil War, which had begun in 1990. The war, and a concurrent economic crisis, had exacerbated existing ethnic tensions between the Tutsi minority and the Hutu majority. The assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana, the Rwandan president, on April 6, 1994, is widely regarded as the catalyst for the genocide.

Events

Following the assassination of President Habyarimana, a campaign of violence spread rapidly from the capital, Kigali, to the rest of the country. Over the course of approximately 100 days from the assassination of Habyarimana, up to 1,000,000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed. The genocide was marked by brutal massacres, often carried out with machetes and clubs, and was mostly directed against the Tutsi minority. However, moderate Hutu and those opposed to the political regime were also targeted.

Aftermath

The genocide ended in July 1994 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-led rebel group that had launched an offensive to control the country, defeated the government forces. The aftermath of the genocide included the displacement of millions of people and significant political and social upheaval.

International Response

The international response to the Rwandan Genocide was criticized for its inadequacy. The United Nations and major countries were accused of failing to prevent the genocide and of a slow response to stop the mass killings.

Legacy

The Rwandan Genocide has had a lasting impact on Rwanda and the world. It led to a reexamination of international policies, practices on humanitarian intervention, and the responsibility to protect civilians. Annually, Rwanda observes a national period of mourning beginning in April, known as Kwibuka, the Kinyarwanda word for "remember."

See also

• History of Rwanda
• Genocide prevention
• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda