Teacher information sheet
Genocide in Rwanda
Rwanda is a small landlocked country in east-central
Africa which is home to approximately 12 million people.
Historically there were three main social groupings in the
country:
• the majority Hutu (84%)
• the minority Tutsi (15%)
• the much smaller Twa (1%)
Rwanda’s history
Flag of Rwanda, adopted in 2001
Throughout the 20th century, power and leadership in Rwanda shifted constantly between Hutus
and Tutsis, with uprisings often leading to bloodshed. Tensions between the two groups had
existed for many years. These tensions are closely connected to the time when Rwanda was
colonised by European countries, first Germany in 1895, and Belgium from 1919-1962. These
occupying powers wanted a clear racial segregation between Hutus and Tutsis because it helped
them control the people. Historically, the distinction between Hutu and Tutsi was mostly social –
based in inequality of wealth, and people could move between the two groups. Belgium imposed
identity cards in 1926, which included ethnic identity. This created a rigid system of a racial identity
fixed from birth, which had not existed before.
Civil war
In 1990, a three-year civil war began. Hutu extremists blamed the Tutsi for all of Rwanda’s
problems, and used state-controlled radio stations to spread their message and dehumanise them
by calling them names, such as ‘cockroaches’.
The end of the war in 1993 led to the Arusha Accords – a peace agreement between the Hutu-
led Government of Rwanda and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi rebel group. The
President and the RPF signed a power sharing agreement, although Hutu racial nationalists
strongly opposed the agreement.
The genocide
On 6 April 1994, the president was flying back to the capital
city of Kigali on his private plane, following peace talks
around the country. His plane was shot down and he was
killed. It remains unclear who was responsible, but extremist
Hutu leaders immediately blamed the Tutsi for assassinating
the President. Ordinary Hutus were told by radio broadcast
and word of mouth that it was their duty to exterminate the Photos of people murdered during the
Tutsi population. Genocide, Kigali Genocide Memorial
Centre
Immediately, attacks were carried out against Tutsis by
civilian militia groups known as the Interahamwe. These groups had been trained and armed by
the Rwandan Army. Any Hutus who supported the peace agreement or tried to help Tutsis were
also attacked.
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As the murders continued, many people sought refuge in what they believed would be safe
havens – churches, hospitals, schools, sports stadiums and community centres. The Interahamwe,
knowing that people were hiding in these places, deliberately targeted them, murdering thousands
of people.
Despite its colossal scale, the genocide was carried out almost entirely by hand, by killers using
machetes and clubs. Tutsis were easily identified as targets as many killers knew their victims
personally, as neighbours, friends and even family.
The genocide continued for 100 days and it is estimated that 1 million people were killed.
Upon hearing news of the genocide the RPF fought back, and they gained control of the country in
July 1994, stopping the genocide.
Justice
With so many people involved in the genocide, bringing any kind of justice afterwards was a very
complicated matter. In the years following the genocide, more than 120,000 people were arrested
and accused of genocidal crimes. Prisons were dangerously overcrowded, and many legal
Auschwitz-Birkenau – the largest Nazi death camp
professionals had been killed in the genocide, so processing cases was slow. Rwanda had to find
a way to pursue justice, deciding on three different levels:
• The International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda – This was set up by the UN and focused on
convicting 93 high level people responsible for the genocide.
• The national court system – Prosecuted around 10,000 people accused of planning the
genocide or of committing serious atrocities.
• The Gacaca courts – In 2005 the Rwandan Government re-established a traditional
community court system called Gacaca (pronounced ga-cha-cha) to deal with the nearly two
million civilian people accused of genocide-related crimes. 1,200 community courts were set up
across the country, with local village elders acting as judges.
Rwanda today
After ending the genocide, the RPF formed a Government of National Unity, bringing together
parties that did not participate in the genocide together. This government remains in power today,
led since 2000 by Paul Kagame, who had commanded the RPF. He has brought stability to
Rwanda and promoted reconciliation between groups.
Rwanda still faces huge challenges, including orphaned children, women with HIV/ AIDS resulting
from sexual violence, and survivors facing disfigurement and trauma. Survivors and perpetrators
still live together as neighbours. Spreading ‘genocide ideology’ is illegal, including any views
that could create division and hatred. People are encouraged to describe themselves only as
Rwandan, never as Hutu or Tutsi.
Find out more...
Genocide in Rwanda: hmd.org.uk/rwanda
Other information for teachers: hmd.org.uk/education
HMDT’s range of free resources: hmd.org.uk/resources
hmd.org.uk @hmd_uk
enquiries@hmd.org.uk hmd.uk Learning from genocide - for a better future
