Two Sides Of The Rwandan Genocide

Genocide is defined as deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group or nation. One genocide that is documented in history is the genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda. The genocidal campaign was led by Hutu extremists in 1994. By examining the timeline, number of deaths, and the weapons used, it is clear that the Rwandan Genocide was one of the worst in history. There were two sides in the genocide. The Hutus, who were the perpetrators; and the Tutsis, who were the victims. The conflict started when, in April 1994, a plane carrying the President was shot down and he was killed. The Hutus blamed a group of Tutsi exiles called the Rwandan Patriotic Front, or the RPF. After the Hutus concluded it was the RPF, they started organizing the mass murder of the Tutsis. Lists with people's names and weapons were handed out. Hate speeches were given via radio, convincing the Hutus to go kill the people named on the list (¨Rwandan Genocide¨). According to BBC, 800,000 people were killed in just 100 days. It is said to be the most rapid genocide
The Tutsis were targeted because Hutu extremists believed it was the Tutsis who killed the President. Neighbors killed neighbors, husbands killed wives, and roadblocks were set up to find Tutsis that had not yet been killed (¨Rwanda Genocide: 100 Days of Slaughter¨). If Tutsis were found, they were slaughtered to death by machetes. All Tutsis and anyone suspected of having Tutsi ties were killed. Women were taken as sex slaves. According to ¨The Rwandan Genocide¨, rape was used as a weapon of war and between 250,000 and 500,000 women became victims of rape. Rape was used to help destroy the Tutsis because of the emotional and mental pain that it caused. Most women, however, did not endure the effects of the rape because they were killed shortly after. While all of this was going on, the outside world did not do much to stop