History Project – Romeo Dallaire’s Plight - the Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
HISTORY PROJECT – Romeo Dallaire’s Plight - The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda
Introduction
Just 18 years ago (1994) in the small east-African country of Rwanda, in the space of 100 days 800,000 people were slaughtered by their own government and fellow citizens. Virtually the entire world turned away and did little to prevent the genocide. Hundreds of thousands of men, woman and children were murdered. This disturbing, recent event is perhaps the darkest and most brutal tragedy of our time.
Background
For centuries Rwanda’s 10 million citizens viewed themselves as one people. In 1916, Belgium colonized Rwanda, introducing a system of identity cards separating the majority Hutus from the minority Tutsis. The Tutsis were given preference in education, jobs and power. In 1959, when Rwanda gained independence, the Hutus rebelled and took over the government, exiling and killing Tutsis. In 1990 a Tutsi-led, multi-ethnic rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Force (RPF), invaded from Uganda. French troops intervened. The invasion ended when both sides signed a peace treaty in 1993, a treaty the UN was sent to protect.
In 1994, the Rwandan population of 7 million people consisted of three ethnic groups: the Hutus (85%), the Tutsis (14%) and the Twa (1%). Hutu extremists within Rwanda’s political elite blamed the entire Tutsi minority population for the country’s increasing social, economic, and political pressures. Habyarimana, the Rwandan president, deepened divides between Tutsis and Hutus through constant political manoeuvring and propaganda.
On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying the president was shot down and violence erupted almost immediately. Under the cover of war, Hutu extremists launched their plans in exterminating the entire Tutsi population. Political figures opposing the Hutu extremists were killed immediately. Tutsis and people suspected of being Tutsis were murdered in their own homes and at roadblocks as they tried to escape the violence. Entire
Introduction
Just 18 years ago (1994) in the small east-African country of Rwanda, in the space of 100 days 800,000 people were slaughtered by their own government and fellow citizens. Virtually the entire world turned away and did little to prevent the genocide. Hundreds of thousands of men, woman and children were murdered. This disturbing, recent event is perhaps the darkest and most brutal tragedy of our time.
Background
For centuries Rwanda’s 10 million citizens viewed themselves as one people. In 1916, Belgium colonized Rwanda, introducing a system of identity cards separating the majority Hutus from the minority Tutsis. The Tutsis were given preference in education, jobs and power. In 1959, when Rwanda gained independence, the Hutus rebelled and took over the government, exiling and killing Tutsis. In 1990 a Tutsi-led, multi-ethnic rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Force (RPF), invaded from Uganda. French troops intervened. The invasion ended when both sides signed a peace treaty in 1993, a treaty the UN was sent to protect.
In 1994, the Rwandan population of 7 million people consisted of three ethnic groups: the Hutus (85%), the Tutsis (14%) and the Twa (1%). Hutu extremists within Rwanda’s political elite blamed the entire Tutsi minority population for the country’s increasing social, economic, and political pressures. Habyarimana, the Rwandan president, deepened divides between Tutsis and Hutus through constant political manoeuvring and propaganda.
On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying the president was shot down and violence erupted almost immediately. Under the cover of war, Hutu extremists launched their plans in exterminating the entire Tutsi population. Political figures opposing the Hutu extremists were killed immediately. Tutsis and people suspected of being Tutsis were murdered in their own homes and at roadblocks as they tried to escape the violence. Entire