Historical Background
The causes of this million people massacre come from pre-colonial and colonial times, as well as the modern facilities they had to indoctrinate and commnicate, weapons and certainly resentment. For 600 hundred years the Hutus and Tutsis coexisted and cooperated in Rwanda. The Hutu ethnic group was traditionally into agricultural jobs, while the Tutsi (from a aNorthern African origin) were originally herdsmen, mainly positioning them as the richer ones in spite of the native Hutus. The physical differences between these two ethnic groups rely on the colour of the skin, Hutus were darker compared to Tutsis, the height, Tutsis were taller and the noses' width, thinner Tutsi noses.However, the intermarriage between these groups was common and when the Rwandan territory became a League of Nations mandate there was no clear difference between these peoples. The League of Nations declared in 1919 that Rwanda would be a Belgian mandate and this intervention made the relations between the two groups very tense. The Belgians decided to use the Tutsi (which at that time wasn't an ethnic group, but the economic elite) as the mediators between the governors and the governed, establishing a Tutsi monarchy. They were privileged and didn't suffer the Belgian oppression as the Hutus did. Moreover, the Belgians in 1935 introduced the identity card which included if they were Hutu or Tutsi and that wealthy Hutu couldn't become honorary Tutsi anymore.
The Rwandan revolution took place in 1959. The Tutsi monarchy remained only until 1962, when they were overthrown to make a Hutu government and they gained independence from Burundi. The Tutsi started suffering from oppression and some fled to the surrounding countries. In 1973 Habayrimana makes a coup d'état and seizes power. However, this government was pro-Hutu as well and they started taking measures against the Tutsi minority. The use of propaganda and politics made the creation of the Interhamwe possible and made the Hutu population turn against the Tutsis in a more radical way. Nevertheless, the actual genocide began in April 1994, after the President's plane was shot down.
Rodrigo Pareja
The Rwandan revolution took place in 1959. The Tutsi monarchy remained only until 1962, when they were overthrown to make a Hutu government and they gained independence from Burundi. The Tutsi started suffering from oppression and some fled to the surrounding countries. In 1973 Habayrimana makes a coup d'état and seizes power. However, this government was pro-Hutu as well and they started taking measures against the Tutsi minority. The use of propaganda and politics made the creation of the Interhamwe possible and made the Hutu population turn against the Tutsis in a more radical way. Nevertheless, the actual genocide began in April 1994, after the President's plane was shot down.
Rodrigo Pareja
Geography
Rwanda is located in the continent of Africa in the Central/Eastern part and it has 26,338 square kilometers. The countries that have borders with Rwanda are the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi. The capital of this country is Kigali and it is located really near to the centre of Rwanda. The longest river is called Nyabarongo and the highest peak located is in the Mount Karisimbi. The climate is temperate tropical highland because of it is in the middle of the Equator line.
In 2012 the population of Rwanda was between 11 and a half million people. There are three tribes that live in this country and two were involved in the huge genocide of 1994. The Hutus occupy the majority of the country being nearly the 85% of the population. The Tutsis are the second bigger tribe of Rwanda being before the genocide the 15% and after nearly the 11%. The third and final tribe is the Twa which are a little percent of the population being the 1%.
Andre Castle
In 2012 the population of Rwanda was between 11 and a half million people. There are three tribes that live in this country and two were involved in the huge genocide of 1994. The Hutus occupy the majority of the country being nearly the 85% of the population. The Tutsis are the second bigger tribe of Rwanda being before the genocide the 15% and after nearly the 11%. The third and final tribe is the Twa which are a little percent of the population being the 1%.
Andre Castle
What happened
Since the 1990's the Rwandan Hutu population (85% of the 7 million), was being told that all the political and social problems were being caused by the Tutsi minority (14%) living in Rwanda. Tension started building up as the measures against the Tutsi minority became more harsh, they were, for example, excluded in schools and universities. In 1990 a civil war begins between the oficial army and the Tutsi armed militia, the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front). In 1993 the United Nations achieves a ceasefire. Tutsi civilians were accused of supporting the RPF and the Hutu population was in constant indoctrination by the use of propaganda and political maneuvering. The resentful Hutu population was driven by hate, but also by the fear to return to the old Tutsi regime. They were waiting for the moment of revenge.
On April 6 the plane carrying President Habyarimana (Hutu) was shot down and the violence started right afterwards. Under the pretext of a civil war, the genocide was disguised at first, but then it became clear to the international community that a genocide was occuring. One million people were killed in the Rwandan genocide (some of them moderate Hutus), about 3/4 of the Tutsi population until the RPF took control over the country and the mass murder was stopped. Most of the killing was made by the use of machetes, knives and clubs. The radical Hutu militia, the Interhamwe, was being trained by the Rwandan army and its major objective was to excecute the planned Final Solution for the Tutsis. Although the blame relies on the Hutus, a history of oppression and the indifference of the Western powers about this event are also factors to consider while analysing the causes of this massacre.
Rodrigo Pareja
On April 6 the plane carrying President Habyarimana (Hutu) was shot down and the violence started right afterwards. Under the pretext of a civil war, the genocide was disguised at first, but then it became clear to the international community that a genocide was occuring. One million people were killed in the Rwandan genocide (some of them moderate Hutus), about 3/4 of the Tutsi population until the RPF took control over the country and the mass murder was stopped. Most of the killing was made by the use of machetes, knives and clubs. The radical Hutu militia, the Interhamwe, was being trained by the Rwandan army and its major objective was to excecute the planned Final Solution for the Tutsis. Although the blame relies on the Hutus, a history of oppression and the indifference of the Western powers about this event are also factors to consider while analysing the causes of this massacre.
Rodrigo Pareja
The Role OF Media
The 1994 genocide in Rwanda was and is considered one of the most tragic events on the 20th century. The media took a very significant part in this horrible fact internally and internationally speaking. The Rwandan radio station was completely controlled by the tribe who did the genocide which are the Hutus, the largest tribe in Rwanda being the 85% of the population. This radio was used for different reasons; convincing the Hutus that the Tutsis are bad people and do not belong to their country, to encourage all Hutu rebels to go and search for “cockroaches” (that is how they called the Tutsis) and kill them or take their homes. Also it was used to coordinate were to attack the army and coordinating all the killing they would do, it was a disaster.
Looking at the international media we also find out that they did not do a good job. The Rwandan situation was completely ignored by the media of other countries and they said false facts like they were two savage tribes fighting each other like they have been doing for a long time. Because of this news they were transmitting there was not any pressure for powerful countries to do something about it. This intervention of the media show how this power can help or make problems in a country which in this case was the consequence of a big massacre.
Andre Castle
Looking at the international media we also find out that they did not do a good job. The Rwandan situation was completely ignored by the media of other countries and they said false facts like they were two savage tribes fighting each other like they have been doing for a long time. Because of this news they were transmitting there was not any pressure for powerful countries to do something about it. This intervention of the media show how this power can help or make problems in a country which in this case was the consequence of a big massacre.
Andre Castle