Hotel RwandaHistorical Background of Rwandan Genocide in 1994

Rwanda

Located in central and east Africa

Bordered by Ghana and Tanzania

Rwanda

Population around 7 million in 1990

Hutu 85%Tutsi 14%Twa 1%

Origins

1884- part of German East Africa1919- Belgians took control during WWI

◦Part of League of Nation mandates◦Promoted Tutsi supremacy

1959- Rwandan Revolution◦Hutus attacked Tutsis◦100,000 Tutsis forced into exile

1962- Independence from colonial rule◦Hutu led government

History of Unrest

Rwandan Civil War◦1990◦Led by Tutsi refugees◦Ended in cease-fire◦No clear advantage to either side

Peace ended in 1994

Murder of President

President- Juvénal Habyarimana ◦ Hutu

Plane shot down on April 6, 1994

Sparked Rwandan genocide

Killings started within hours of assassination

GenocideDEF- the deliberate killing of a large group of people

Largest example of genocide since the Holocaust

Lasted 100 daysBelieved that between

500,000 and 1,000,000 killed

Victims mainly Tutsi and Hutu moderates

Believed that over 200,000 people participated in the genocide

Rwandan Genocide

Refugee camp in Zaire

Survivor of machete attack

United Nations

UN peacekeeping forces presentWarned of a possible attack with anti-Tutsi

sentiment“genocide fax”General Romeo Dallaire warningNo international intervention

◦But aware of the mass killings

Ending to genocide

Killings ended when Tutsi rebel group RPF took control of government◦Only way to ensure that no other Hutu regimes

would perpetuate genocidePresident Paul Kagame took control

Hotel Rwanda

Paul RusesabaginaBelgian owned

Hotel des Mille Collines

Provided a safe haven for over 1,200 people during the genocide

Used bribery in the form of liquor and money to save refugees

Historically Accurate

Paul did save the lives of may refugees

UN did evacuate European guests

Inaccuracies

Film implies Tutsi rebels shot plane down- debated today

Movie shows refugees escaping to Congo- really Zaire

Killings did not stop with the arrival of Tutsi rebel forces

Discussion of differences between Hutu and Tutsis- more economical

Sources

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0417-04.htm

http://www.unitedhumanrights.org/genocide/genocide_in_rwanda.htm

http://www.gov.rw/http://therwandangenocide.wordpress.co

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