The Rwandan genocide occurred in 1944. The Belgians were the ones who initially created a strong divide between the Tutsi and the Hutu, the two African groups living in Rwanda. In the 1930s, Belgium, the current ruling power, defined specific physical characteristics to differentiate between the Tutsis and the Hutus. The Tutsis were perceived as the superior group in comparison to the Hutus, so the Belgians saw them as partners in enforcing Belgium law. In 1933, the Belgians mad identity cards that showed which ethnic group a person belonged to. Juvenal Habyarimana, who was a Hutu, was shot down from a plane in April when he was on his way to the capital of Rwanda, which was Kigali. This was planned by a Hutu extremist group that did not want
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He petitioned for more help to support the Rwandan people, but these requests were denied.The Rwandan genocide was basically ignored international, because it was seen as an internal problem. The UN did not want other to be involved in the affair. Reporters portrayed the incident as a civil war, and did not mention the premeditated slaughter of civilians. Shortly after the killings began, General Dallaire solicited the UN for aid again but they rejected his requests.. In fact, within days of the start of the genocide, the UN Security Council voted to reduce the UN peacekeeping force in the country from 2,500 to 270 soldiers. With limited personnel and equipment, a weak mandate, and no outside support, the peacekeepers were severely …show more content…
Many of these refuges became the sites of major massacres. In addition to mass killings, thousands and thousands of Tutsis and people suspected of being Tutsis were killed in their homes and in the street, especially at roadblocks set up across the country by militias to prevent them from escaping. Entire families were killed at a time. Women were systematically and brutally raped. Sometimes, Tutsis were murdered or attacked by their neighbors. It is estimated that some 200,000 people participated in carrying out the genocide, though there were also people involved in the killing who also helped rescue or protect those targeted. It was understood that those caught helping Tutsis could be targeted themselves. The genocide ended when the Tutsi-dominated rebel movement, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), captured Kigali, overthrowing the Hutu government and seizing power. After the RPF victory, UN troops and international aid workers arrived to help maintain order and restore basic services. A new multi-ethnic government was formed on July 19, 1994, which promised all refugees a safe return to Rwanda. Pasteur Bizimungu, a Hutu, was inaugurated as
He petitioned for more help to support the Rwandan people, but these requests were denied.The Rwandan genocide was basically ignored international, because it was seen as an internal problem. The UN did not want other to be involved in the affair. Reporters portrayed the incident as a civil war, and did not mention the premeditated slaughter of civilians. Shortly after the killings began, General Dallaire solicited the UN for aid again but they rejected his requests.. In fact, within days of the start of the genocide, the UN Security Council voted to reduce the UN peacekeeping force in the country from 2,500 to 270 soldiers. With limited personnel and equipment, a weak mandate, and no outside support, the peacekeepers were severely …show more content…
Many of these refuges became the sites of major massacres. In addition to mass killings, thousands and thousands of Tutsis and people suspected of being Tutsis were killed in their homes and in the street, especially at roadblocks set up across the country by militias to prevent them from escaping. Entire families were killed at a time. Women were systematically and brutally raped. Sometimes, Tutsis were murdered or attacked by their neighbors. It is estimated that some 200,000 people participated in carrying out the genocide, though there were also people involved in the killing who also helped rescue or protect those targeted. It was understood that those caught helping Tutsis could be targeted themselves. The genocide ended when the Tutsi-dominated rebel movement, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), captured Kigali, overthrowing the Hutu government and seizing power. After the RPF victory, UN troops and international aid workers arrived to help maintain order and restore basic services. A new multi-ethnic government was formed on July 19, 1994, which promised all refugees a safe return to Rwanda. Pasteur Bizimungu, a Hutu, was inaugurated as