Rwandan Genocide
The Rwandan genocide in 1994 witnessed the brutal killing of around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis, within a hundred days.
Triggered by the assassination of President Habyarimana, ethnic tensions between Hutus and Tutsis erupted into widespread violence.
Despite mounting evidence, international response, notably the UN, was inadequate. The aftermath left Rwanda deeply scarred, prompting ongoing efforts for justice and reconciliation.
The genocide serves as a haunting reminder of the consequences of ethnic hatred and the imperative of preventing mass atrocities.
Rwanda during the 90's
In the 1990s, Rwanda, located in East-Central Africa, was characterized by its hilly terrain and a growing population.
The country, known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills," had a diverse climate due to its elevation. Rwanda was home to the Virunga Mountains, featuring volcanic activity and endangered mountain gorillas.
The population was predominantly composed of Hutus and Tutsis, with ethnic tensions rooted in a colonial legacy. The capital, Kigali, saw some urbanization during this period.
The 1990s were marked by the tragic Rwandan genocide, profoundly impacting the country's demographic and socio-political landscape.
Juvénal Habyarimana Assassination
Juvénal Habyarimana was the President of Rwanda whose assassination on April 6, 1994, became the spark that ignited the Rwandan genocide.
His death, in a plane crash near Kigali, remains a pivotal and contentious event. Habyarimana, a Hutu, had presided over a government marked by ethnic tensions and discriminatory policies against the Tutsi minority.
Following his assassination, extremist elements within the Hutu-led government initiated a systematic and widespread campaign of violence against the Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
The Genocide
The Rwandan genocide in 1994 saw the brutal killing of around 800,000 people, mainly Tutsis, in just 100 days.
Triggered by the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana, extremist elements within the Hutu-led government orchestrated systematic violence, targeting Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
The international community faced criticism for its inadequate response. Rwanda, in the aftermath, pursued justice and reconciliation, trying perpetrators through the ICTR and national courts. The genocide's profound impact shaped Rwanda's trajectory in politics, society, and economics.
Today's Challenges
Today they have been repeated allegations that Rwanda has been backing the Tutsi-led M23 rebels, against their neighbor DRC, which Kigali has repeatedly denied.
The force has seized swaths of territory in North Kivu, on the two countries border, since taking up arms again in late 2021 after years of dormancy.
It looks like the tensions never stops in Africa, the continent that has been suffered so much from bloody wars.