Disaster Strikes Rwanda

On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying the president of the small East African country of Rwanda was shot down by unknown people. He was killed.  This disaster launched a genocide that killed up to a million Rwandan people in just a few weeks. The vast majority of the dead were Tutsis.

What Fanned the Flames

Two groups make up most of the population of Rwanda. About 85% are Hutu people and about 14% are Tutsi. Until the late 1950s, the most powerful and wealthy Rwandans were Tutsis, even though they were the minority. This was because Rwanda had long been controlled by European countries (first Germany, and then Belgium) and the Europeans supported rule by Tutsi kings. The Hutus, who made up most of the population, resented the power of the Tutsis.

In 1962, Rwanda became independent. The Hutus’ larger numbers won them control of the new government. Soon, laws passed by the Hutu government took away many rights from the Tutsis. They were harassed by authorities and treated like second class citizens.

A civil war started in 1990. It was led by a small, mostly Tutsi rebel army. In 1993, a cease fire was negotiated.  But maintaining the peace was difficult.

The Genocide Begins

Hutus leaders claimed that Tutsis had shot down the presidents’ plane. This became an excuse to blame all Tutsis. Within hours, soldiers set up roadblocks to capture and kill Tutsi people. Radio announcements the next day urged Hutus to rise up and kill their Tutsi neighbors, whom they called “cockroaches” and “snakes.”  Gangs of soldiers, police and civilians rounded up men, women and children all over the country to be massacred. The killers used clubs, knives, and guns. 

The rebel army of Tutsis kept fighting. As they gained control of the country, the Hutu leaders who led the genocide fled the country or were killed. They were followed by at least two million Hutu civilians who feared that the Tutsis would punish the perpetrators or take revenge on them.

In July, 1994, when the rebel army took over the country, the genocide ended.  A unity government that included both Tutsis and Hutus, with the same rights for all was created. Now Tutsis and Hutus today work at living together in peace, teaching young people that they are all Rwandans who must build their country together.