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In the century before European colonialism, the Tutsi, a nomadic cattle-herding people, moved into Rwanda and neighboring regions. The Tutsi took control of the area from the Hutu, who had centuries before taken it from the Twa (pygmies). The Hutu were primarily subsistence farmers and the Tutsi were able to establish themselves as dominant over the Hutu.
During World War I, Belgian troops from the Congo routed Germans controlling Ruanda-Urundi. Belgium took control of the region. After the end of the war the League of Nations confirmed Belgium's right to the territory.
The Belgians left intact and in fact reinforced the social order in the country. They issued racial identity cards. Hutu were relegated to farming and manual labor while the Tutsi were given authority and rights of aristocracy.
When independence came in 1962, the Hutu people were very tired of being dominated and treated as second class citizens in their own country. However, they never had the political strength to change the situation. Hutu Power and other underground organizations attempted to build strength to rebel but were repressed. A sudden, chaotic, and horribly destructive rebellion finally occurred in 1994. Hutu death squads targeted Tutsi leaders and their families and eventually slaughtered whole villages. Tutsi revenge squads attacked Hutu farms and towns. Because Rwanda is deep inside Africa and because it has no compelling national treasure (oil or minerals), western countries had little incentive to step in to stop the violence. The level of violence quickly exceeded anything that western armies could deliver to stop it, and no one wanted to risk whole airborne divisions stepping in to a situation they did not fully understand.
What else can I help you with?
What was the role of the Germans in the Rwandan genocide?
They were not involved in the Rwandan genocide.
What has the author Hazel Cameron written?
Hazel Cameron has written: 'Britain's hidden role in the Rwandan genocide' -- subject(s): Genocide, Genocide intervention, Responsibility to protect (International law), Principals (Criminal law), Prevention
What are some good questions to ask about the rwanda genocide?
When exploring the Rwandan genocide, consider asking: What were the underlying causes that led to the genocide in 1994? How did the international community respond during and after the genocide, and what lessons were learned? What role did propaganda play in inciting violence between the Hutu and Tutsi populations? Additionally, how has Rwanda's government addressed the aftermath and reconciliation process in the years since?
What role do religion and race play in genocide?
Does your religion teach you that people from other cultures are evil? That attitude is the root of genocide.
What did South Africa have to do with the tutsis and hutus?
South Africa had little to do with the Rwandan conflict. Rwanda is a long way from South Africa and the internal civil war and genocide that happened there was not influenced by South Africa. South Africa did play a role in ending the conflict as a member of the African Union.
What role did the UN play during the rwandan war?
Security while food was being donated to the hungry & starving populations.
What is the name of the tutsi militia?
The name of the Tutsi militia is the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). Founded in the 1980s, the RPF was initially formed to fight against the Hutu-led government and to advocate for Tutsi rights in Rwanda. The group played a significant role in the Rwandan Civil War and ultimately in stopping the genocide against Tutsis in 1994.
What role did the US play in the genocides that took place in Germany Cambodia Rwanda?
Generally speaking, the US ignored those genocides. However, since the US was already fighting Nazi Germany, it ended up stopping the Holocaust. However, the US did nothing in regards to the Cambodian genocide (which was stopped by the recent US enemy: Vietnam) and nearly nothing with regards to the Rwandan genocide, which was stopped by Rwandans opposed to the government and French-led UN forces.
How did racism play a role in Rwandan genocide?
It was the culmination, largely influenced by the Belqen colonization which favored the Tutsi minority group because of their more "European" appearance, of longstanding ethnic competition and tensions between the minority Tutsi, who had controlled power for centuries, and the majority Hutu peoples, who had come to power in the rebellion of 1959-1962 and overthrown the Tutsi monarchy.
What ethnic group made up the interhamwe militia group?
The Interahamwe militia group was primarily composed of members from the Hutu ethnic group in Rwanda. They played a significant role in the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi population in 1994. The group's name translates to "those who work together," and they were known for their extreme violence and participation in mass killings during the genocide.
What impact did Germans have on Tutsis?
Germans played a significant role in the colonization of Rwanda, which resulted in the classification of Tutsis and Hutus based on arbitrary physical characteristics. This division exacerbated tensions between the two groups in the region, eventually leading to the Rwandan genocide in 1994 where the Tutsis were brutally targeted and killed by the Hutus.
Who caused the Rwanda Genocide?
Hutu militia played a major role in the genocide. Theodore Bagosora was the leader of the Hutu extremeist. Also, Agathe Habyrimana, wife of the former-late president Juvenal Habyrimana played an important role in organzing the genocide attacks.
