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Some Info • Population: 7,810,056Capital: KigaliGovernment type: RepublicPresident: Paul KagameEthnicity: 85% Hutu, 14% TutsiMajor languages: Kinyarwanda, English and French are official languages. Swahili is also used.Major religions: Catholic (56.5%), Protestant (26%), Adventist (11.1%), Muslim (4.6%)
Some Info • Life expectancy: 39.33 yearsMedian age: 18.1 yearsNatural resources: Gold, tin ore, tungsten ore, methaneCanadian imports from: Coffee ($700,000)Canadian exports to: Electrical machinery ($800,000 and worn clothing $100,000)
History • First colonized by Germany in 1890. • Germany forced to give it over to Belgium in Treaty of Versailles in 1919. • Natives made up of two ethnic groups, Tutsi and Hutu who lived together for 600 years.
Hutu Tutsi • Both groups spoke the same language, shared the same religion, and traded resources. • Both followed the Belgian chosen leader and thought he was godlike. • Intermarriages were common between the two.
Differences Hutu Tutsi • Physically the Tutsi were lighter skinned, thinner and taller than Hutus • Hutus were shorter and stocky, darker skinned. • Tutsi were cattle herders, Hutu were famers. • 85% of people were Hutu, 15% Tutsi • Large Hutu Majority.
Belgium Influence • Belgium orders the citizens to carry identity cards stating who was Tutsi and Hutu. • Belgium viewed the Tutsi as ethnically superior because they had lighter skin, were taller. • Tutsi were richer since they had cattle. • Gave privileged jobs and government positions to Tutsi. • This angered Hutus as they were the majority
Conflict • In 1959 Rwandan Tutsi king dies and Belgium installs another Tutsi king. • This angered Hutus and a violent revolution resulted. • Rwanda holds an referendum and vote for independence from Belgium.
Hutu Power • 1962 First Hutu, Gregoire Kayibanda, elected to power. • Throughout the 60’s and 70’s Hutus kill and persecute Tutsi and remove them from powerful jobs. • 2 million Tutsi fled to Uganda, Congo, Tanzania.
In 1973 military coup installs Hutu General Habyarimana • He changes constitution that states Tutsi can only fill 9% of government positions. • Tutsis in Rwanda and all neighboring countries from the Rwandese Patriotic Front (RPF) to fight for Tutsi rights.
1990 RPF in all countries invade Rwanda. • France and Zaire send troops to stop the invasion and force a cease fire in 1991. • Hutu Government declares Tutsis as enemy of the state. • United Nations intervenes to make sure the cease fire is not broken. • Mission is called United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR).
UNAMIR • 2500 troops • 370 from Canada • 400 Belgium • 800 Ghana • Canadian Lieutenant General Romeo Dallaire is put in charge of the mission to support Arusha Accords cease fire.
Ethnic Division • President Habyarimana takes this event to create a Tutsi enemy threat. • Gave him more support in the country. • Organized massacres of Tutsi and opposition groups. • Formed a youth militia called the Interahamwe (those that attack together).
Interehamwe recruiters offered them food, drugs, freedom to rape, cash. • Encouraged them to take Tutsi possessions.
Hutu Power Radio • Habyarimana also started the radio station RTLM also known as Hutu Power. • Used to spread hatred and blame the Tutsi for all problems. • Called them Inyenzi or “cockroaches” • Also spread hate against UNAMIR and Belgium. • In Burundi, Tutsis murdered the Hutu president making the Rwandans more frightened.
Hutu Power Radio • Radio announces that Tutsi should exterminate their neighbours and take their land and possessions. • False reports of the Tutsi attacking Hutu in rural parts of country led by the RPF.
Civilian Civil Defense Force • Habyarimana organizes another militia (Civilian Civil Defense Force) of ordinary citizens and gives them clubs and machetes. • It is now believed that France supplied weapons and training for the Interahamwe and the Civilian force.
Structure • Habyarimana then kills all local leaders that does not support him and replaces them with his own Hutu leaders. • Police chiefs, Mayors, government employees all support killing the Tutsi. • They wait for the signal from the Hutu power radio station.
Dallaire’s Cables • Dallaire captures shipments of weapons from France (in violation of Arusha Accords) destined for Hutu Government. • Meets with Interahamwe informant “Jean Pierre” who tells of weapons caches throughout Rwanda. • Dallaire sends cable (communication) requesting permission to capture weapons and is denied. Forced to tell Habyarimana what he knows. • Jean Pierre is never seen again
Start • April 6th 1994 President Habyarimana is killed when his plane is shot down. • Colonel Bagosora takes charge and orders the military, Interahamwe, Civilian Civil Defense to begin extermination of the Tutsi for self defense.
Strategies • Organised to kill 1000 every 20 minutes • Since Rwandans were forced to identify, Hutus knew where they lived. • Went house to house killing families. • Local officials order militias to create barriers on roads to prevent Tutsis from leaving.
Strategies • Force Tutsi to go to public buildings (churches, schools, govt buildings) where they are massacred in large scale. • Women were raped in exchange for their life.
Belgium Deaths • Once the killings started, Romeo Dallaire sent 10 Belgium peacekeepers to protect the Prime Minister Agathe uwilingiyimana • She is killed • Troops are captured, tortured and killed by the Tutsi.
Evacuations • France, Belgium, U.S send 2000 in troops and Military planes to evacuate its citizens in Rwanda, and leave. • Belgium removed its troops after the deaths. • Dallaire was left with 270 troops from Canada and Ghana. • UN ordered Dallaire to leave, he denied the order.
End of Genocide • The genocide came to an end after the RPF invaded once again. • Estimated 800,000 Tutsi and Hutu killed in 100 days. • RPF capture Kigali and form an interim government composed of Tutsi and Hutu.
