Rwanda, 1994

Rwandan Genocide, 1994

This was a huge massacre in Rwanda. Hutu militia groups were persecuting the Tutsis. These militia groups were mainly the Interhamwe and the Impuzamugambi. This lasted for a period of 100 days in 1994. There is an estimated 800,000 to 1,071,000 Tutsis who were persecuted. The United Nations responded poorly to the Hutus getting weapons. Also many first world countries didn’t intervene, including France, Belgium, and the United States.

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The cause for this persecution was simple. When the Tutsis were in power they were racist against the Hutus. This obviously angered the Hutus immensely. However when Rwanda gained independence, political power flipped over to the Hutus. The Tutsis knew this was goin to mean trouble for them. When the Hutus came in control they treated the Tutsis however they wanted to. Later there came along, the Rwanda Patriotic Front. This was a renewed invasion. It was dominated mainly by Tutsis, this was their rebel movement. It basically ended the genocide. This rebel movement was led by Paul Kagame, he overthrew the Hutu governement and took all power. Many Hutus became afraid and fled. Ethnic hatreds are mainly what led to the Rwandan Genocide. This also had an influence on the First and Second Congo Wars and the Burundi Civil War.
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By, Lindsay

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