Rwandan Genocide 1994

The Rwanda genocide of 1994 was a planned mass murder that happened for around 100 days from 7 April to 15 July 1994. More than 80 lakhs( 800,000) people died in this genocide. This genocide was done by the majority population of Hutu in Rwanda against the minority group named Tutsi. It was fueled by longstanding ethnic tensions and political rivalries in Rwanda.

Despite the presence of UN peacekeeping forces, the scale of the violence overwhelmed efforts to prevent it. The aftermath of the genocide left Rwanda deeply scarred, with profound social, economic, and psychological impacts that continue to shape the country’s trajectory to this day.

Rwanda Genocide 1994- Overview

Country Name	Rwanda
Continent	Africa
Location of Rwanda	Central Africa
Genocide Year	1994
Communities Involved	Hutu and Tutsi
Number of People Died	More than 80 lakh

Rwandan Genocide 1994 Timeline

Date	Event
October 1, 1990	Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), composed mainly of Tutsi exiles, invades Rwanda from Uganda, sparking the Rwandan Civil War.
April 6, 1994	Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane is shot down near Kigali Airport, killing him and sparking the genocide.
April 7, 1994	Genocide begins: Hutu extremists, including the military and militias, begin systematic killings of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
April 9, 1994	Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a moderate Hutu, is assassinated along with ten Belgian UN peacekeepers protecting her.
April 11, 1994	Belgian UN peacekeepers withdraw from Rwanda, reducing international presence and allowing the genocide to escalate.
April 21, 1994	The UN Security Council votes to withdraw most UN peacekeeping forces from Rwanda, leaving civilians vulnerable to attacks.
April 29, 1994	French forces launch “Operation Turquoise,” establishing a “safe zone” in southwestern Rwanda, but critics accuse France of supporting the Hutu government.
May 17, 1994	The UN Security Council adopts Resolution 918, authorizing the deployment of a multinational force to Rwanda to provide humanitarian aid and restore order.
June 22, 1994	The UN Security Council authorizes the expansion of the multinational force (UNAMIR) to 5,500 troops, but it is slow to deploy.
July 4, 1994	RPF captures Kigali, effectively ending the genocide, although violence continues in some areas.
July 18, 1994	UNAMIR’s mandate is expanded to include the protection of civilians and assistance in repatriating refugees.
July 19, 1994	The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is established by the UN Security Council to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other crimes.
August 1994	Hutu extremist leaders flee to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) as RPF gains control of Rwanda.
December 1994	RPF declares victory, effectively ending the genocide, but violence and instability continue in the region.
1994-1995	Approximately 2 million Hutus, including perpetrators of the genocide, flee to neighboring countries, creating a humanitarian crisis.
1996-1997	Rwandan forces, along with RPF-allied rebels, invade Zaire (DRC) to pursue Hutu extremists, contributing to the First Congo War.
1998	Rwanda and Uganda support rebel groups in the DRC, leading to the Second Congo War, one of the deadliest conflicts since World War II.
2002	The Rwandan government establishes the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission to promote healing and reconciliation among ethnic groups.
2004	The ICTR convicts its first defendant, former Rwandan mayor Jean-Paul Akayesu, for genocide and crimes against humanity.
2005	The Rwandan government adopts a national genocide ideology law, criminalizing denial or revision of the genocide.
2008	The UN Security Council establishes the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals to handle remaining cases from the ICTR.

Background of the Rwandan Genocide

Genocide is the act of destruction of a group of people in large numbers based on their ethnicity, nationality, religion or race. This term is derived from the word ‘genos’ a Greek word that means race, tribe or nation and the Latin word ‘cide’ that means killing. The word genocide was coined by Raphael Lemkin, a Polish-born jurist.

Ramadan genocide happened in the year 1994. It was a planned mass murder by the majority community Hutu that went on killing anyone from Tutsi population that was in minority at that time, 100 days in April to July, 1994. The genocide resulted in more than 8,00,000 people, including Tutsi and Hutu community in the genocide. Around to 20,00,000 citizens of Ravindra fled out of the country during or immediately after the genocide.

There were two major ethnic groups in Rwanda named Hutu and Tutsi. The Hutu community was about more than four fifths, whereas the Tutsi community was about one seventh of the total population in Rwanda. A third group named Twa was also part of the population in the form of 1% population. All of these group spoke the common language and lived together for the centuries.

There were constant problems going on among these three communities. Therefore, it can be said that there are many factors that led to the Rwandan genocide. These factors are mentioned below:

Ethnic Issues

The ethnic issues can be traced back to te tensions between Hutu and the Tutsi community. These were increased by the Belgian colonial rule.

Colonial Legacy

The colonial powers like Germany and Belgium formed the minority focused policies for the Tutsi community. It challenged the existing social hierarchies and tensions.

Hutu Revolution

A revolution was caused by Hutu in 1959 against the Tutsi community. It further estrained the ethnic relations that led to the violent repercussions against Tutsis.

Political instability

The political instability and the vacuum was created after the assassination of the President. Along with the deeply rooted ethical issues increased the genocide.

Propaganda

The widespread extreme propaganda which was spread through the media criticed the Tutsis in a dehumanised way. After Rwanda gained independence in 1962, these tensions persisted, with periodic outbreaks of violence.

Causes and Catalysts of the Rwandan Genocide

Triggered Point

On April 6 in 1994, the President Habyarimana was assassinated. This assassination sparked the genocide. It became the catalyst for the violence caused by the extremist Hutu.

Killings

Brutal methods such as machetes and rape were used to kill the people from the opposition side. The HUTU Militia, systematically killed Tutsis and the moderate Hutus.

State’s Role in Violence

At that time, Hutu extremists led the interim government. That helped them to facilitate the genocide without any action from the state. On the other hand, the interim government organised the genocide with the participation of the military and the police.

Incitement through Propaganda

Hate speech and the outrage was displayed publicly against the Tutsis and the moderate Hutu to encourage the common people of Hutu Community. Radio broadcasts along with other media outlets were used to show the Tutsis as the enemies of the state.

Major Participants

The primary perpetrators of the genocide were extremist Hutu militias, including the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi, as well as elements within the Rwandan government and military. The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), led by Paul Kagame, played a crucial role in ending the genocide and later assumed power in Rwanda.

End of Rwandan Genocide

Tutsi Military’s Role

An offensive action was launched against the Hutu community by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) consisting mainly of Tutsi. IT eventually captured the Kigali and overthrown the extremists’s interim government.

Transitional Government

To stable the political situation a new transitional government made up of both Tutsi and Hutu community, was set up. It was the signal of the end of the ongoing genocide nad the process of peace. It shown the seeds of reconciliation process for the future.

Humanitarian Crisis

The genocide led to the fleeing of Rwandan citizens to the neighboring countries. It also became a sudden humanitarian crisis to refuge the large number of people.

Reconciliation

The deep imprints of the genocide and the cruelty made the people to think and reconcile. The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda was set up to punish and prosecute the responsible for the genocide.

International Response and Intervention

The international community largely failed to intervene effectively to stop the genocide. Despite early warnings and pleas for assistance, the UN and other world powers hesitated to take decisive action. The UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, known as UNAMIR, was ill-equipped and lacked a mandate to intervene forcefully. The failure to prevent or halt the genocide remains a stain on the conscience of the international community.

Impact and Aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide

The Rwandan Genocide had profound and far-reaching consequences for Rwanda and the wider region. It left behind a legacy of trauma, loss, and division. However, Rwanda has made significant strides in rebuilding and reconciliation in the years since the genocide, with efforts focused on justice, education, and economic development.

Rwandan Genocide Trials

These were held at three levels through the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), National Courts and the Gacaca Courts.

1. International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)

It was established by the United Nations in 1994 at the location in Arusha, Tanzania. Its was focused on high-ranking officials and the leaders although it was not empowered to punish with capital punishment. It started its trials in 1998 till the early 2000s. Later, the relations of it were not on good terms although its operations were restarted later.

2. National Courts

These courts were responsible for the trials of the lower-level genocide suspects.In the starting it had the authority to punish with the death penalty but later it was abolished in 2007.

3. Gacaca Courts

These court were used to clear the remaining genocide cases. It was established din 2001 while started its trilas in 2005. It was focused on the closure of the genocid cases and to reconcile. It handled around 1.5 million cases till the 2010.

Timeline of the Rwandan Genocide

• April 6, 1994: President Habyarimana’s plane is shot down, triggering the genocide.
• April-July 1994: Mass killings, rapes, and other atrocities are perpetrated against Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
• July 4, 1994: The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi rebel group, captures Kigali, effectively ending the genocide.
• July 18, 1994: The UN Security Council establishes the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other crimes.

Stories of Survival and Reconciliation

Despite the horrors of the genocide, there are also stories of resilience, survival, and reconciliation. Many Rwandans, both Tutsis and Hutus, have worked tirelessly to overcome the divisions of the past and build a more inclusive society. Grassroots initiatives, such as community-based justice systems and memorial sites, have played a crucial role in promoting healing and unity. Additionally, survivors and perpetrators have engaged in dialogue and forgiveness processes aimed at fostering reconciliation and peace.

Conclusion

Tthe Rwandan genocide of 1994 was not a sudden events. Rather it was a caused due to long timed political instability and the ethnic tensions. It was sparked due to colonial discrimination among the communities. The failure of international community to solve it shows the lack of courage and unity at the international level.

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FAQs on Rwandan Genocide 1994

Why did Tutsi and Hutu fight?

The Tutsi and Hutu fight due to their ethnic issues and the political instability.

Who killed the president of Rwandain 1994?

The president of Rwanda was killed by the extremists Hutu community people in 1994.

How long genocide of Rwanda last?

The Rwandan genocide lasted for around 100 days.

How many people died in Rwandan genocide?

More than 880 lakhs (800,000) people died in Rwanda genocide.

In which year Rwandan genocide happened?

The Rwanda genocide happened in the year of 1994.