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Rwanda

Rwanda. The Historical Narrative. Essential Questions. Why does genocide happen? When, if ever, do we have a responsibility to intervene when we learn of peoples suffering in humanitarian crises such as genocide? How can we prevent genocide from happening again?. Topic Questions.

lesley-lane
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Rwanda

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  1. Rwanda The Historical Narrative

  2. Essential Questions • Why does genocide happen? • When, if ever, do we have a responsibility to intervene when we learn of peoples suffering in humanitarian crises such as genocide? • How can we prevent genocide from happening again?

  3. Topic Questions • Why did genocide happen in Rwanda? Was it inevitable? • To what extent did the legacy of colonialism play a role? • What should the United States have done, or not done, during the genocide?

  4. Genocide • “geno” = race/tribe • “cide” = killing • the systematic killing of an entire group of people

  5. Land of a Thousand Hills Terrace farming everywhere … so few flat areas that they have to use the hills Photo Credits: Katie Leonberger’s 2006 Trip

  6. Typical Kigali hillside covered with houses Views from the highway heading from Kigali to Ruhengeri, a town located on Rwanda’s northwest border

  7. Fields of corn and banana trees Lakeside banana plantation

  8. Lakes too

  9. Pre-Colonial History • Small clusters of people drifted into Rwanda: • Twa (1% of pop.) • Hutus & Tutsis

  10. Pre-Colonial History • Rwandan state developed—elite evolved TUTSIHUTU - elite - masses - cattle herders - farmers - minority - majority - 13% - 86%

  11. Colonial History • 1863: John Hanning Speke’s “Hamitic hypothesis” • 1894: 1st European enters Rwanda (von Götzen) • Late 1890s-1919: German colony • indirect rule • decent relations

  12. Colonial History • 1919: ceded to Belgium • “race science” affirms Hamitic hypothesis • exploit Hutus: no gov’t. jobs, no university, etc. • 1933-1934: “ethnic” ID cards

  13. Colonial History • 1959: Hutu revolution • spark: Hutu political activist beaten up by Tutsis • overthrew Tutsi elite • killed 20,000 Tutsi … 300,000 into exile • 1960: Belgians switch allegiances – empower Hutus • 1962: independence

  14. 1960s -1980s • ongoing: attacks by exiled Tutsis & Hutu massacres of Tutsis • ex. 1963-64: 14,000 Tutsi dead (Dec. 24-28, 1 province alone); 250,000 Tutsis flee • anti-Tutsi policies: • official pop. made 9% (vs. 13) • quota system: restricted access to edu., public employment, military

  15. 1960s -1980s • 1973: Juvenal Habyarimana seizes power (Hutu) • quota system remains but relative peace • Oct. 1990: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) attacks from Uganda • unsuccessful … France helps Rwandan gov’t. • gives excuse to attack Tutsis • RPF carries on guerrilla war Pres. Habyarimana (1973-1994)

  16. 1993: Arusha Accords • peace talks to end war (RPF vs. Rwanda) • supported by Western Powers • power-sharing agreement • UN peacekeepers deployed (UNAMIR)

  17. April 6, 1994: Plane Shot Down • Burundi pres. and Habyarimana are killed • within hours… genocide begins

  18. The Genocide • 100 days (April-July) • 800,000 dead (UN est.) • victims: Tutsis & moderate Hutus • interahamwe • “cockroaches” • Radio Milles Collines A genocide memorial at Nyamata church outside Kigali

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