The Begining

                Long have the Rwandan people suffered at the hands of social violence, injustice, and degradation. The infamous tension between the two groups the Tutsi, and the Hutu, recently ignited with such a terrifying intensity that any who strayed near were scorched. Though predating the nation’s era of European overlords, the famed internal conflict was undoubtedly intensified under German, and then Belgian rule. German and Belgian rule was not substantial in any way other than that it forever hardened the lines between the Tutsi and Hutu.

                Germany was granted the lands that are present day Rwanda and Burundi in the Berlin Conference of 1885(1). However, up until this time, no European had set foot in Rwanda as it was largely isolated and had minimal interaction with outside factions.(2) At this time the nation was ruled by a Tutsi hierarchy led by the Mwami, or king. Tutsi in the region were essentially similar to medieval lords, for they had the power, land, and cattle in their control. The Hutu were essentially serfs, working the land in exchange for protection. (3) When the German’s came, Rwanda put up little resistance. German’s ruled indirectly through the existing Mwami, and other than conquering rebel Hutu chiefs did very little of importance. However, the Germans considered the Tutsi “whiter” and thusly superior to their Hutu counterparts.  When Rwanda Burundi fell under Belgian control, the escalating resentment between the Hutu and Tutsi just continued rising.

                In 1923 the League of Nations (now UN) created Rwanda-Burundi as a league mandate to be ruled by Belgium. (4) After World War II the mandate was replaced by a UN trusteeship, but the land still remained in Belgian possession. Other than end the rule, as well as tradition of the Mwami, Belgians kept the status quo of Rwandan society. The Tutsi remained dominant in affairs of social as well as economic matters. Belgians forced and watched over the planting and harvesting of new crops such as coffee, thereby allowing for an agricultural production increase. Also, they improved the infrastructure of the nation, channeling money and resources into the building of roads, schools, hospitals, and government buildings. (5) When the mandate changed to a trusteeship, the Belgians were required to integrate the Rwandans into the political process, leading to limited government representation.(6) Though originally dominated by the Tutsi, in the 1950’s the Hutu were encouraged by the Belgians to become involved in government, which led to a swift shift of power. With this new power, as well as apathy for continued Tutsi dominance, the Hutu began to call for change, with passion perhaps too extreme.

                Although Belgians improved the roads and tried to educate the people, the colonization process in Rwanda destabilized an already complicated social system. The Europeans favored the Tutsi and gave them power and control, more so than they already had. Then when the resentment stemming from the Hutu had grown intense, seeming almost planned, the Europeans switched their favor. The Hutu were quickly given a means to control their country, and strike back at those whom for so long had been the idols of their hatred, the Tutsi.

Freedom of Sorts

                Rwanda in their brief colonial history was never a rebellious nation; the inner turmoil brewing was enough to keep occupied. When Rwanda joined other African nations demanding for independence, their situation was complicated by the growing tension between the Hutu and Tutsi. The Hutu, who comprised the population majority, were determined to gain control of the country, and the Tutsi’s power was quickly fading away.(7) When independence was granted in July of 1962, violence and the struggle of a nation were clearly to follow suit.

                The Belgian’s were already losing influence before the wave of independence struck the long troubled nation. The determined Hutu were going to great lengths to accomplish their goal of gaining control of the country, “…in 1959 when a Hutu sub chief was beaten by a gang of Tutsi, Hutu gangs retaliated and rampaged through the street. Several hundred people were killed before Belgian authorities restored order.”(8) The UN then declared the only way for future success was of a unified Rwanda-Burundi state. (9) However, In April 1962 both Nations decided that it was impossible due to long standing historical antagonism between their two republics. (10) On June 27, 1962 the UN General Assembly voted to terminate the Belgian trusteeship, and shortly thereafter Rwanda gained its independence.

                Gregoire Kayibanda became the new country’s first president (a Hutu), a new constitution was ratified, and reconciliation seemed not far ahead. However, the ethnic violence continued on, escalating to higher and higher lengths due to the removal of Belgian supervision. In 1963, Tutsi harbored in surrounding countries attempted to invade Rwanda, were repelled, and as consequence, over 12,000 Tutsi were massacred by the Hutu. (11) In addition to the violence, Tutsi people were only allowed 9 percent of jobs, school positions, and government appointments, as recompense for all the years of Tutsi dominance.(12) Kayibanda reigned until 1973 until he was overthrown by General Juvenal Habyarimana, who was just as corrupt and brutal toward the Tutsi. From here the Hutu continued to gain a near monopoly on power, and the situation for the Tutsi minority kept getting graver and graver.

                The Hutu were essentially given the country and power without the UN first truly assessing the social tension that was escalating ever so steadily. It was like giving an upset child a loaded gun, saying “take care now son,” and walking away. Without UN oversight, the Hutu immediately took control of the country and used their fury towards the Tutsi to fuel their decisions. The Tutsi minority had near no protection, no options other than to flee, and largely were at the mercy of their brutal new overlords.

Tension Erupts

                During President Habyarimana’s reign, Rwanda was clearly set on a tract for lands of bleak desolation. Despite the fact that the economy barely avoided collapse, and that his office was shockingly corrupt, ethnic tension peaked. The Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) comprised of Tutsi exiles, as well as supporters, began fighting in order to gain reformation. This newly militarized, long standing conflict between two ethnicities led to the desecration of a nation and its peoples.

                On October 1, 1990 the RPF launched an invasion of Rwanda from Uganda, they were quickly suppressed, and Habyarimana went about strengthening his forces.(13) The UN attempted to step in to reform Habyarimana in 1993 with the Arusha Agreement,(14) the Agreement was not accepted, and the UN essentially sat and watched as the future horrors unfolded. On April 6, 1994 President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile, (15) shortly after, the well planned massacres began. The unabated killings of Tutsi continued for weeks, with thousands of Tutsi being executed a day. The government even encouraged civilians to take place in the massacres, to go out and kill their Tutsi neighbor. The RPF was finally able to forcibly take control of the country, abolish the government, and end the mass murders. All in all, near 1,000,000 Tutsi and Tutsi supports were victim to the vile genocide. Families were destroyed, children orphaned, and bodies were strewn decaying in the sun. (16)

                The International community did near nothing to stop this tragic event, finally stepping in to help repair. Millions of refugees took shelter in refugee camps, however this also led to the spread of deadly diseases and shortages of food and water. Statistics taken by the UN reveal a shocking story from the perspective of the young, “99.9 percent of children witnessed violence. 69.5 percent witnessed someone being killed or injured, 90.6 percent believed they would die, 87.5 percent saw dead bodies or parts of bodies.”(17) Everything that had previously transcended was mere buildup to this final atrocious finale which had been so long coming. However, though it has not completely disappeared, racial tension is gradually reducing.

                With strongly supported RPF founder President Kagame at the helm, the nation of Rwanda is making a slow but sure recovery. One of the main goals of which is to dissipate any remaining hatred lingering between the two ethnicities. Though the RPF could have mounted revenge to the genocide, they chose instead the path of reconciliation, a path which is to the behoovement of the people. Atrocities of unimaginable magnitude befell a people who have struggled to accept that they are indeed one people.   Hutu, Tutsi, Rwandan, as is the philosophy of the future.