Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda – Rwanda Today

Size:Size:26,338 square 26,338 square kilometers, slightly kilometers, slightly smaller than Marylandsmaller than MarylandPopulation:Population:About 10 millionAbout 10 million

National language:National language:  Kinyarwanda, Kinyarwanda, French & English French & English Per capita incomePer capita income: : US$ 460/year (2009) US$ 460/year (2009) Life expectancy: Life expectancy: 51 (2009) 51 (2009) % of population using% of population usingimproved drinking water sources:improved drinking water sources: 65%  65% (2008) (2008) % of population using% of population usingadequate sanitation facilities:adequate sanitation facilities: 54%  54% (2008)(2008) 

Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa 1%Twa 1%Roman Catholic 56.5%Roman Catholic 56.5%

Protestant 26%,Protestant 26%,Adventist 11.1%Adventist 11.1%

Muslim 4.6%Muslim 4.6%Indigenous beliefs 0.1Indigenous beliefs 0.1

Rwanda: Mobile Phone Usage At a 42 Percent Penetration Rate13 JUNE 2012

People living with AIDS (2009) – People living with AIDS (2009) – 170,000 (2.9%)170,000 (2.9%)

AIDS Deaths – (2009) – 4,100AIDS Deaths – (2009) – 4,100

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

Mr. Weiss

Rwanda

Mr. Weiss

Map of Central Africa

Rwanda

Mr. Weiss

Map of Rwanda

RwandaRwanda

Kigali – Kigali – Capital Capital

of of RwandaRwanda

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

The key question is how did Rwanda become a country where such a terrible genocide could take place? In order to answer this question, one needs to know about the history of Africa and Rwanda…..from the Berlin Conference to the Belgians who took over the area we know today as Rwanda. Colonialism and the negative effect it left on its colonies, is a very important part of the story. The following gives you an overview of this history….but just an overview!

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

•Twa – Original inhabitants of Twa – Original inhabitants of Rwanda but by 1000 were Rwanda but by 1000 were outnumbered by the Hutusoutnumbered by the Hutus

•1414thth Century – Tutsis migrated into Century – Tutsis migrated into the area and gained dominance over the area and gained dominance over HutusHutus

•1818thth Century – Tutsis ruled most of Century – Tutsis ruled most of what is today Rwanda even though what is today Rwanda even though the Hutu’s were the majoritythe Hutu’s were the majority

•Late 19Late 19thth century Rwanda reaches century Rwanda reaches the height of its powerthe height of its power

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

•1890 – Rwanda accepted German 1890 – Rwanda accepted German overrule without resistance and overrule without resistance and became part of German East Africa became part of German East Africa

•Germans had virtually no influence Germans had virtually no influence over the affairs of the country and over the affairs of the country and initiated no economic development.initiated no economic development.

• During World War I, Belgian forces During World War I, Belgian forces occupied (1916) Rwanda, and in 1919 occupied (1916) Rwanda, and in 1919 it became part of the Belgian League it became part of the Belgian League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi.of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi.

Mr. Weiss

History of RwandaAs A Belgian Colony: 1914 As A Belgian Colony: 1914

- 1962- 1962•From 1925 – Ruanda-Urundi is linked From 1925 – Ruanda-Urundi is linked with the neighbouring Belgian Congo.with the neighbouring Belgian Congo.

•The Belgians leave the Tutsi in charge of The Belgians leave the Tutsi in charge of Ruanda-Urundi.Ruanda-Urundi.

•Hutu are subject to forced labor and the Hutu are subject to forced labor and the Tutsi supervise themTutsi supervise them

• 1933 – Everyone in Ruandi-Urundi is 1933 – Everyone in Ruandi-Urundi is issued a racial identity card defining issued a racial identity card defining them as Hutu (95%), Tutsi (14%) or Twa them as Hutu (95%), Tutsi (14%) or Twa (1%)(1%)

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

As A Belgian Colony: 1914 - 1962

This Belgian attitude, setting in stone the distinction between the two groups and favouring one of them, prepares the ground for future violence (in earlier times racially based massacres have never occurred between Hutu and Tutsi). The predictable occasion for its outbreak is the rush towards independence in the late 1950s. (This is all a crucial part of what leads up to the Genocide in Rwanda)

http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad24

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

•1957 – Hutus called for a change in Rwanda’s power structure that would give them a voice.

•1959 – Fighting breaks out between the Hutu’s and Tutsi’s (aided by the Twa) and the Hutu’s win

•1960 – Hutu political parties win election of 1960

•1961 – Rwanda proclaimed a republic and confirmed by the UN

•1962 – Belgium grants independence to Rwanda on July 1

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda

Independence and Civil StrifeIndependence and Civil Strife•1964 – Incursion from Burundi which was 1964 – Incursion from Burundi which was still controlled by Tutsi. Many Tutsi’s were still controlled by Tutsi. Many Tutsi’s were killed in Rwandakilled in Rwanda

•1973 – Renewed fighting between Hutu and 1973 – Renewed fighting between Hutu and Tutsi and some 600 Tutsis fled to UgandaTutsi and some 600 Tutsis fled to Uganda

•1973 – Military coup brings about a more 1973 – Military coup brings about a more moderate Hutu governmentmoderate Hutu government

•1978 – New constitution-over 50,000 Tutsis 1978 – New constitution-over 50,000 Tutsis leave for Burundileave for Burundi

Mr. Weiss

History of Rwanda•1980 – Rwanda invaded from Uganda by Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) – mostly Tutsi Refugees

•1991 – Hutu government agrees to a new multi-party government

•1993 – After the Hutu president signed a power sharing agreement, violence breaks out. Due to violence a UN peacekeeping mission was established.

•1994 – Presidents of Rwanda and Burundi were killed in a suspicious plane crash which leads to violence on a massive scale and the start of the genocide

http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/world/A0860866.html

Mr. Weiss

Rwanda Today