Rwanda The Historical Narrative. Essential Questions Why does genocide happen? Why does genocide...

RwandaRwanda

The Historical NarrativeThe Historical Narrative

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions

Why does genocide happen?Why does genocide happen? When, if ever, do we have a responsibility to When, if ever, do we have a responsibility to

intervene when we learn of peoples suffering intervene when we learn of peoples suffering in humanitarian crises such as genocide?in humanitarian crises such as genocide?

How can we prevent genocide from happening How can we prevent genocide from happening again?again?

Topic QuestionsTopic Questions

Why did genocide happen in Rwanda? Was it Why did genocide happen in Rwanda? Was it inevitable? inevitable?

To what extent did the legacy of colonialism To what extent did the legacy of colonialism play a role? play a role?

What should the United States have done, or What should the United States have done, or not done, during the genocide?not done, during the genocide?

GenocideGenocide

““geno” = race/tribegeno” = race/tribe ““cide” = killingcide” = killing the systematic killing of an entire group of the systematic killing of an entire group of

peoplepeople

Land of a Thousand HillsLand of a Thousand Hills

Terrace farming everywhere … so few flat areas that they have to use the hills

Photo Credits: Katie Leonberger’s 2006 Trip

Typical Kigali hillside covered with houses

Views from the highway heading from Kigali to Ruhengeri, a town located on Rwanda’s

northwest border

Fields of corn and banana trees

Lakeside banana plantation

Lakes tooLakes too

Pre-Colonial HistoryPre-Colonial History

Small clusters of people drifted into Rwanda:Small clusters of people drifted into Rwanda:1.1. Twa (1% of pop.)Twa (1% of pop.)2.2. Hutus & TutsisHutus & Tutsis

Pre-Colonial HistoryPre-Colonial History

Rwandan state developed—elite evolvedRwandan state developed—elite evolved

TUTSITUTSI HUTUHUTU - elite- elite - masses - masses - cattle herders- cattle herders - farmers - farmers - minority- minority - majority - majority

- 13%- 13% - 86% - 86%

Colonial HistoryColonial History

1863: John Hanning Speke’s “Hamitic 1863: John Hanning Speke’s “Hamitic hypothesis”hypothesis”

1894: 11894: 1stst European enters Rwanda (von European enters Rwanda (von Götzen)Götzen)

Late 1890s-1919: German colonyLate 1890s-1919: German colony indirect ruleindirect rule decent relationsdecent relations

Colonial HistoryColonial History

1919: ceded to Belgium1919: ceded to Belgium ““race science” affirms Hamitic hypothesisrace science” affirms Hamitic hypothesis exploit Hutus: no gov’t. jobs, no university, etc.exploit Hutus: no gov’t. jobs, no university, etc.

1933-1934: “ethnic” 1933-1934: “ethnic” ID cardsID cards

Colonial HistoryColonial History

1959: Hutu revolution1959: Hutu revolution spark: Hutu political activist beaten up by Tutsisspark: Hutu political activist beaten up by Tutsis overthrew Tutsi eliteoverthrew Tutsi elite killed 20,000 Tutsi … 300,000 into exilekilled 20,000 Tutsi … 300,000 into exile

1960: Belgians switch allegiances – empower 1960: Belgians switch allegiances – empower HutusHutus

1962: independence1962: independence

1960s -1980s1960s -1980s ongoing: attacks by exiled Tutsis & Hutu massacres ongoing: attacks by exiled Tutsis & Hutu massacres

of Tutsisof Tutsis ex. 1963-64: 14,000 Tutsi dead (Dec. 24-28, 1 province ex. 1963-64: 14,000 Tutsi dead (Dec. 24-28, 1 province

alone); 250,000 Tutsis fleealone); 250,000 Tutsis flee

anti-Tutsi policies:anti-Tutsi policies: official pop. made 9% (vs. 13)official pop. made 9% (vs. 13) quota system: restricted access to edu., public employment, quota system: restricted access to edu., public employment,

military military

1960s -1980s1960s -1980s 1973: Juvenal Habyarimana seizes power (Hutu)1973: Juvenal Habyarimana seizes power (Hutu)

quota system remains but relative peacequota system remains but relative peace

Oct. 1990: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) attacks Oct. 1990: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) attacks from Ugandafrom Uganda unsuccessful … France helps unsuccessful … France helps

Rwandan gov’t.Rwandan gov’t. gives excuse to attack Tutsisgives excuse to attack Tutsis RPF carries on guerrilla warRPF carries on guerrilla war

Pres. Habyarimana (1973-1994)

1993: Arusha Accords1993: Arusha Accords

peace talks to end war (RPF vs. Rwanda)peace talks to end war (RPF vs. Rwanda) supported by Western Powerssupported by Western Powers power-sharing agreementpower-sharing agreement UN peacekeepers deployed (UNAMIR)UN peacekeepers deployed (UNAMIR)

April 6, 1994: Plane Shot DownApril 6, 1994: Plane Shot Down

Burundi pres. and Habyarimana are killedBurundi pres. and Habyarimana are killed within hours…within hours…

genocide beginsgenocide begins

The GenocideThe Genocide 100 days (April-July)100 days (April-July) 800,000 dead (UN est.)800,000 dead (UN est.) victims: Tutsis & moderate Hutusvictims: Tutsis & moderate Hutus interahamweinterahamwe ““cockroaches”cockroaches” Radio Milles CollinesRadio Milles Collines

A genocide memorial at Nyamata church outside Kigali