Prescribed Subject 5: Conflict & Intervention — PS5.1 Rwanda
Ethnic Tension & Colonial Legacy
Rwanda’s modern history has been marked by deep ethnic tension between Hutu and Tutsi groups—exacerbated by colonial policies under German and Belgian rule. Colonial authorities privileged the Tutsi minority, creating lasting divisions.
Key Point: Colonial “divide and rule,” ethnic identity cards, and politically constructed inequality laid the foundations for future violence.
Hutu Power & Political Radicalization
- 1960s–1990s: The Hutu majority moved from independence to controlling government, marginalizing Tutsis in society and politics.
- Hutu Power Movement: In the 1990s, extremist parties and radio stoked anti-Tutsi rhetoric, calling for exclusion and violence.
- Radicalization: Militia groups and politicians called for the “solution” to the “Tutsi problem,” culminating in preparations for genocide.
Propaganda and hate speech made violence against Tutsis a political project across Rwanda.
Rwandan Civil War & Genocide (1990–1994)
- Civil War began in 1990 when the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) invaded from Uganda to challenge Hutu rule.
- Tensions erupted into genocide after the assassination of President Habyarimana (April 1994).
- Tensions erupted into genocide after the assassination of President Habyarimana (April 1994).
- Extremist Hutu government mobilized army, militia (“Interahamwe”), and civilians to kill Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
- Over 800,000 people were killed in 100 days—one of the fastest and deadliest genocides in history.
International Response: UN and global powers failed to intervene in time; only limited humanitarian aid was provided.
Justice & Reconciliation
| Justice Mechanism | Description |
|---|---|
| ICTR (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) | UN tribunal set up to prosecute genocide organizers (1994–2015) |
| Gacaca Courts | Traditional community courts tried tens of thousands of perpetrators, aimed at truth-telling and local justice |
| National Reconciliation | Post-genocide government focused on unity, reintegration, and denial of ethnic political identity |
The pursuit of justice in Rwanda combined international efforts and grassroots reconciliation to heal the wounds of genocide.
Refugee Crisis & Broader Impact
- Genocide and war triggered a massive regional refugee crisis—over 2 million people fled to neighboring countries, destabilizing central Africa.
- Disease, famine, and recurring conflict accompanied the refugee flows.
- Post-genocide Rwanda has made significant economic and social recovery, but trauma and memory persist.
Conclusion: Rwanda’s tragedy exposed the global community’s failure to intervene, but ongoing justice and nation-building efforts offer lessons for modern conflict intervention and reconciliation.