1 / 42

Rwanda ….

Rwanda …. 100 Days of Genocide. Background Country is smaller than Maryland Most densely populated country in Africa Biggest export is coffee Type of government is republic. Demographics Population: 8, 722, 000 Languages: Kinyarwanda French

konane
Download Presentation

Rwanda ….

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Rwanda …. 100 Days of Genocide

  2. Background • Country is smaller than • Maryland • Most densely populated • country in Africa • Biggest export is coffee • Type of government is • republic

  3. Demographics • Population: 8, 722, 000 • Languages: Kinyarwanda • French • English • Kiswahili • Life Expectancy: 40 years • Ethnic Groups: Hutu (84%) • Tutsi (15%) • Twa ( 1%)

  4. History of Rwanda’s People • Wealth in the country was measured by • cattle • Hutus (85% majority): farmers • Tutsis (15% minority): cattle herders

  5. In 1884 at the Berlin Conference, what is now Rwanda was given to Germany. After WWI, Belgium gained control of Rwanda.

  6. History of Ethnic Tension To strengthen their control, the Belgians started a strict racial classification system……

  7. The size of the nose and color of the eyes were some of the factors that determined if someone was Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa.

  8. Hutus: shorter & stronger; broader • features • Tutsis: taller & thinner; narrow features; • lighter skin • Racist German and Belgian ideas: Tutsis look • more white; they are “superior” race

  9. Tutsis placed in positions • of authority • Hutus denied: • higher education • land ownership • govt. positions

  10. 1950’s—Tensions Escalate Hutus: Tutsis: Resent years of Belgian rule and want more independence. • Resent years of oppression by Tutsis, and Belgians. • Belgians: • Fear rule is coming to an end • Favor Hutus over Tutsis and hold power longer • Take back Tutsi power

  11. 1959: Violence erupts between Hutus and Tutsis • Hutus overthrow Tutsi government • Hutus declare an independent republic • First Hutu president elected (Gregoire Kayibanda) • Thousands of Tutsis are murdered • Hutus use racial classification system against Tutsis

  12. Independence and beyond….. • 1961: Independence from Belgium • “Hutu Revolution” • 130,000 Tutsis flee to Uganda, Burundi, • and Congo • Tutsi exiles form militias and launch raids • into Rwanda • Events in Burundi ignite Hutu fears

  13. The stage is set for genocide…. “Tutsi: Race of God” “Which weapons are we going to use to beat the cockroaches for good?” --Kangura Magazine

  14. The Habyarimana Regime • 1973: Ousts Kayibanda • One-party dictatorship (MRND) • Ethnic group I.D. cards have • to be carried at all times • Puts six Tutsis in govt. • positions, but discrimination • continues • Thousands of Tutsis leave • Rwanda

  15. 1990-1993 • Rwanda’s economy worsens • Habyarimana loses support • RPF attacks from Uganda, • reaching Kigali

  16. The Arusha Accords, Tanzania, 1993 • Peace agreement signed • between Habyarimana & • the RPF • end fighting • power-sharing govt. • UNAMIR will monitor • ceasefire and tension • between Hutus and • Tutsis General Romeo Dallaire

  17. Reaction to the Arusha Accords • Hutu supremacists are enraged: • “Hutu Power” movement begins • Interahamwe is formed

  18. Radio stations and newspapers begin a campaign of hatred towards Tutsis • Identification of the “enemy and its accomplices” (Tutsis and moderate Hutus) by government forces • Hutus are called upon to “rise up…really rise up” in self-defense against the Tutsis

  19. The Horror Begins On April 6, 1994, Habyarimana’s plane is shot down and he is killed; Hutu extremists and the RPF blame each other…..

  20. Tutsis in Exile After 30 years in exile, Tutsi refugees want to return home. The Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) is formed. The group grows to 5,000 members by 1991, lead by Paul Kagame.

  21. Genocide • ~ 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus are • killed in 100 days, starting on 4/6/94 • 8,000 deaths/day • 340 deaths/hour • ~ 1/10th of Rwanda’s population is killed

  22. Finally in July, the RPF captured Kigali, the government collapsed, and the killing stopped. Millions of Hutus fled to DROC.

  23. Lasting Effects of the Genocide1. Trauma

  24. 2. New government

  25. 3. Economic devastation

  26. 4. Refugees & conflict have spilled into neighboring countries

  27. Trials continue • for those • accused of war • crimes and • prisons overflow

  28. May 17, 2011: General Augustin Bizimungu sentenced to 30 years in prison for being a “mastermind” of the genocide.

  29. 6. Lingering mistrust and hatred between Hutus and Tutsis requires monitoring by peacekeeping forces

  30. What went wrong? • U.N. “peace keepers” could not counter-attack • Warnings of impending genocide were ignored • UNAMIR’s requests for reinforcements were • denied

  31. U.S. hesitant to get involved after Somalia • Conflicting reports of events by Western media • Questionable French response • International response was too late

  32. Accepting Responsibility In 2000, the United Nations Security Council accepted responsibility for “failing to prevent the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.” Belgium also offered an apology.

More Related