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Essay / Historical Roots of the Rwandan Genocide
Although it is often difficult to dictate a single culprit and take into account one historical event, one of the most important roots of Rwanda's problems and challenges generally dates back to 1916 , when Belgium began to govern Rwanda after the end of World War I. However, it is important to remember that it was under the German regime that the theory that the Tutsis were the superior race was born. This clear racial preference would lead, like a domino effect, to the Rwandan genocide. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Like many colonized countries, Rwanda was meant to be profitable for Belgium and was seen as a means to a very wealthy end . Tensions increased between the Tutsis, the Hutus and Belgium, with the Tutsi even attempting to revolt against their colonizers. However, their race would soon be official, being written on their identification papers to separate the weak from the superior. A glimmer of hope came with Mutara III Rudahigwa, king of Rwanda from 1931 to 1959, who sought to reduce the differences between Hutu and Tutsi. Mutara died in 1959. Rumors immediately spread that Hutus were the culprits, with some believing this to be the case. was the Hutu way of diminishing Tutsi control over Rwanda. Following an assassination attempt on Mutara's younger brother and the death of a Hutu politician at the hands of the Tutsi, the "wind of destruction", otherwise known as the Rwandan Revolution, manifested itself as form of violent attacks by the Hutu. The number of Tutsi who died varied between 20,000 and perhaps even 100,000, which further fueled hatred between the two groups. The consequences of this were the Belgian-organized municipal elections in the 1960s, where Hutu representatives were elected by the vast majority of Rwanda (i.e. the Hutus) – which meant that the Hutus were now in power and that social statuses had been completely reversed. Rwanda finally became its own republic in 1962, tensions continued to grow between the two groups and violence broke out in the country. Juvénal Habyarimana, through a military coup, took power in 1973. By 1989, Rwanda's population reached 7.1 million. Despite a better economic situation, Rwanda failed to resolve the immense refugee problem concerning the Tutsis, which later led the RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front (composed of 500,000 Tutsis) to start the Rwandan Civil War in 1990. A brief period of ceasefire followed in 1993, but ended in 1994 when Habyarimana died in a plane crash. The Hutus blamed the Tutsis, and the Rwandan genocide. began, extending over 100 days and brutally murdering an estimated 800,000 Tutsis (and the Hutus who had aided them and sympathized with the Tutsis). The UN sent peacekeeping forces, but the pacifist nature on which these forces were based proved of little or no use when the Hutu realized that the soldiers were not allowed to shoot. The Rwandan people received little or no aid from countries. all over the world, with the United States and Belgium only saving their own nationals. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The RPF eventually regained power and soon, the nation returned to a somewhat peaceful period, with the creation of the ICTR. The consequences of the genocide were unfortunately that around two million Hutus fled the country and..