HISTORY OF HISTORY OF Ethnic Tension Ethnic Tension

IN RWANDAIN RWANDA

RwandaRwanda

The hatred and anger has The hatred and anger has grown between the MAJORITY grown between the MAJORITY

Hutus and MINORITY Tutsis Hutus and MINORITY Tutsis since the colonial period.since the colonial period.

The two ethnic groups speak the The two ethnic groups speak the same language, live in the same same language, live in the same

areas and follow the same areas and follow the same traditions.traditions.

The problems started from about the years 1870 to 1914,when many European countries acquired colonies in Africa.

The country of Belgium claimed Rwanda.

The country of Belgium is dark green.

Belgian colonists arrived in 1916, Belgian colonists arrived in 1916, saw the Tutsi and Hutu people saw the Tutsi and Hutu people

as two distinct groups, and as two distinct groups, and produced identity cards produced identity cards

classifying people according to classifying people according to ethnicity.ethnicity.

Comparison of Comparison of Tutsi, Hutu, Tutsi, Hutu,

and Twaand Twa

Tutsi

Hutu

Twa

Tutsi's were taller, and their skin was lighter. As a result, Europeans believed that Tutsis had Caucasian ancestry, and were "superior" to Hutus. Each citizen was issued a racial identification card, which defined one as legally Hutu or Tutsi. The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis.

The size of the nose and the color of the eyes were factors that determined whether a person was classified as Hutu, Tutsi or Twa.

IDENTITY CARDIDENTITY CARD

The Tutsis welcomed the The Tutsis welcomed the privileges bestowed upon them privileges bestowed upon them

and enjoyed better jobs and and enjoyed better jobs and educational opportunities than educational opportunities than

Hutus.Hutus.

European colonizers and Tutsi royaltyEuropean colonizers and Tutsi royalty

Leave None to Tell the Leave None to Tell the StoryStory

1994 Rwanda Genocide

BackgroundBackground

Rwanda is characterized by highland plateaus and Rwanda is characterized by highland plateaus and mountain ranges which dominate the landscape mountain ranges which dominate the landscape

It is the smallest nation in Africa and historically It is the smallest nation in Africa and historically has the highest population densityhas the highest population density

Considerable rainfall supports nearly three Considerable rainfall supports nearly three agricultural seasons and 90% of total population is agricultural seasons and 90% of total population is involved in farminginvolved in farming

84% of current population is Hutu, 15% Tutsi and 84% of current population is Hutu, 15% Tutsi and 1% Twa1% Twa

Coffee is Rwanda’s most profitable crop. It was Coffee is Rwanda’s most profitable crop. It was introduced by the Belgians. introduced by the Belgians.

The Twa were the The Twa were the first to inhabit the first to inhabit the region long before region long before any other ethnic any other ethnic group. They are group. They are called pygmy, a called pygmy, a

word which means word which means the adult male the adult male

usually grows no usually grows no taller than about taller than about

4’11” tall.4’11” tall. European male with Twa family

Twa FamilyTwa Family

When the Europeans came, they encountered a land inhabited by three groups: the Tutsi, the Hutu, and the Twa.

They were not distinguishable tribes with different cultures and customs. Instead, they had developed a common language, Kinyarwanda, had the same religious beliefs, and created a culture which valued song, dance, poetry, and rhetoric.

The Europeans used the slight differences between the three groups to produce a theory of ethnic superiority: the Twa were at the bottom, followed by the Hutu, with the Tutsi at the top.

Hutu farmerHutu farmer

The Hutu were the majority of the The Hutu were the majority of the population. They were mostly population. They were mostly farmers. farmers.

The Twa, were either hunter-The Twa, were either hunter-gatherers or servants. gatherers or servants.

The Tutsi were cattle-herders , The Tutsi were cattle-herders , extremely tall and thin with extremely tall and thin with angular facial features.angular facial features.

Tutsi King Musinga Tutsi King Musinga and the royal familyand the royal family

Rwanda king Rwanda king and Belgianand Belgian

In 1933 the ID card system In 1933 the ID card system was instituted.was instituted.

Ethnic identity was now in the Ethnic identity was now in the daily lives of all Rwandans. daily lives of all Rwandans. The Hutu, now reminded of The Hutu, now reminded of

their inferiority with ID cards, their inferiority with ID cards, began to nationalize. began to nationalize.

Resentment among the Hutus grew.Resentment among the Hutus grew.

They rioted in 1959 andThey rioted in 1959 andmore than 100,000 Tutsis were killed.more than 100,000 Tutsis were killed.

Many fled to the neighboring countries of Many fled to the neighboring countries of Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda.Burundi, Tanzania and Uganda.

In 1961 elections, In 1961 elections, the Hutu received the Hutu received 78% of the vote, 78% of the vote,

and a new and a new president, a Hutu president, a Hutu named Gregoire named Gregoire

Kayibanda in Kayibanda in 1962. 1962.

In 1973, In 1973, President President

Kayibanda was Kayibanda was overthrown by overthrown by

his friend, a his friend, a general named general named

Juvénal Juvénal Habyarimana.Habyarimana.

Habyarimana was a Hutu. He Habyarimana was a Hutu. He was president of Rwanda from was president of Rwanda from

1973 until he died when his 1973 until he died when his airplane was shot down in 1994. airplane was shot down in 1994. His assassination started more His assassination started more ethnic tensions and marked the ethnic tensions and marked the

beginning of the Rwandan beginning of the Rwandan Genocide. His death was used as Genocide. His death was used as

the pretext for the genocide of the pretext for the genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus.the Tutsis by the Hutus.

In 1994, the ethnic enmity in In 1994, the ethnic enmity in Rwanda developed into a Rwanda developed into a

massacre, and over one million massacre, and over one million innocent people were murdered in innocent people were murdered in

about a hundred days. about a hundred days.

The massacre is called the The massacre is called the Rwandan Genocide. An Rwandan Genocide. An

estimated 800,000 to 1,071,000 estimated 800,000 to 1,071,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate ethnic Tutsis and moderate

Hutus in Rwanda, were killed Hutus in Rwanda, were killed mostly by two extremist Hutu mostly by two extremist Hutu

militia groups.militia groups.

On April 6th 1994 president Habyarimana’s plane is shot down.On April 6th 1994 president Habyarimana’s plane is shot down. On April 7th the Hutu army troops block the roads and start the On April 7th the Hutu army troops block the roads and start the

slaughter slaughter Tutsi men, women and children are massacred house-by-house Tutsi men, women and children are massacred house-by-house People try to hide in churches and schools but without People try to hide in churches and schools but without

protection they are massacredprotection they are massacred Over 800,000 victims in 100 daysOver 800,000 victims in 100 days

The Rwanda GenocideThe Rwanda Genocide

Rwanda TodayRwanda Today Rwanda is beginning to develop. Rwanda is beginning to develop. Some Rwandans continue to grapple with the Some Rwandans continue to grapple with the

legacy of almost 60 years of intermittent war. legacy of almost 60 years of intermittent war. One agent in Rwanda's rebuilding effort is the One agent in Rwanda's rebuilding effort is the

Benebikira Sisters, a Catholic order of nuns Benebikira Sisters, a Catholic order of nuns whose ministry is dedicated to education and whose ministry is dedicated to education and healthcare. Since the genocide, the Sisters have healthcare. Since the genocide, the Sisters have housed and supported hundreds of orphans, and housed and supported hundreds of orphans, and created and staffed schools to educate the next created and staffed schools to educate the next generation of Rwandans.generation of Rwandans.

The president of Rwanda today The president of Rwanda today is Paul Kagame. He is a Tutsi.is Paul Kagame. He is a Tutsi.

He has been president since the He has been president since the year 2000.year 2000.