Understanding the Tutsi Genocide: A Tragic Chapter in Rwandan History
Written by Lote Līva leimane
Edited by Megan Scott
*This is a fact checked piece*
The Tutsi genocide, also known as the Rwandan genocide, stands as one of the darkest episodes in recent human history. This catastrophic event unfolded in the heart of Africa, Rwanda, during a period of about 100 days in 1994. The genocide saw the systematic massacre of an estimated 800,000 Tutsi people, along with moderate Hutus who opposed the extremist ideology driving the violence. To comprehend this tragedy, it's crucial to delve into its historical context, key terms, and the events that transpired.
Rwanda, a small landlocked country in East Africa, has a very complex history filled with ethnic divisions and undeniable colonial influence. The population of Rwanda primarily consists of three ethnic groups- the Hutu, the Tutsi and Twa. The Tutsi, historically were considered the elite class. They held high political and economical power while the Hutu were predominantly farmers. However, these distinctions were not rigid, and intermarriage and social mobility was common.
As previously mentioned, colonialism, particularly the Belgian rule from 1916 to 1962, heightened the tensions by institutionalising ethnic identities and privileged the Tutsi minority. The Belgians also introduced identity cards that categorised individuals based on ethnicity, further expanding divisions within the already divided Rwandan society.
The spark that ignited the horrific events occurred on April 6, 1994, when a plane carrying a Hutu Rwandan president Juvénal Habyarimana, was shot down. Although the perpetrators still remain unidentified, Hutu extremists immediately used this as an excuse to initiate their genocidal campaign. Following the assassination, roadblocks were set up across the country and lists of Tutsi and Hutu individuals were given to militias. The Interahamwe along with parts off the Rwandan military and civilian authorities started hunting down and slaughtering Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
Radio RTLM played a key role in spreading propaganda about the Tutsis and even coordinating attacks. Messages of hatred and igniting violence were broadcasted daily urging Hutus to ''exterminate the cockroaches'', a derogatory term used to dehumanise the Tutsis as to excuse the attacks and killings of the Tutsis.
The international community, despite knowing the escalating violence, failed to intervene effectively. The Tutsi genocide is considered to be the biggest fail of the United Nations ever. The UN peacekeeping mission in Rwanda, UNAMIR was ill-equipped and under resourced to stop the bloodshed. Meanwhile, many Western nations were hesitating to label the atrocities as a genocide since then, under international law, they would have to intervene and that was not in their interests.
The Tutsi genocide stands as a haunting reminder of the consequences of ethnic hatred, political manipulation and failure of the international action. The systematic slaughter of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Rwanda and highlighted the catastrophic human cost of unchecked hatred against a group.
The genocide of Tutsis is used as a ''never again'' example in the international community yet, we keep making the same mistakes. When will we learn?