In Rwanda, nationalism has not always been a very present factor. It is only in recent years that there has been an increase in the nationalism of the country. After the 1994 genocide, the Rwandans wanted nothing more than to put the past behind them and to become a unified country once again. This is what has caused a rise in nationalism. The rise in nationalism in Rwanda was caused mainly by the end of the genocide, and also by the unification of Rwanda by the new government. Nationalism is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as loyalty and devotion to a nation, or “exalting one nation above all others and placing a primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational
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The two main ethnic groups of the country, the Hutu and the Tutsi, had been put against each other by the countries that colonized them.
It all started with the Germans. They were the first to colonize and take over Rwanda. However, they were not there for long. Soon after their arrival, the Belgians took Rwanda from German control. The Belgians are the ones who are mainly responsible for the separation of the two ethnic groups in Rwanda. Although there had been some slight separation before, the Belgians took it quite a few steps further. The only real difference between the Hutu and the Tutsi is that the Hutu were farmers and also peasants, while the Tutsi were cattle herders who were often of higher status than the Hutu. Although they differed in this way, they always got along with each other. They share the same culture, religion, language, and many other things. Because of this, nationalism was fairly high. But, when the Belgians took over things in Rwanda, they separated the ethnic groups further by making distinctions between facial features on the people. Those with skin on the lighter side and who were …show more content…
This was because the Rwandan Patriotic Front, or the RPF, launched an attack on Rwanda from their base located in Uganda. The RPF consisted mainly of the Tutsi people. Since the government was led by the Hutu, they claimed that all of the Tutsi people were accomplices of the RPF, and also that any and all Hutu members of opposite parties were considered traitors. On April 6th of 1994, the Rwandan President, Juvenal Habyarimana, was killed after his plane was shot down. The Hutus blamed Tutsi rebels for this tragic accident. Within a day or so, the Hutu took down those who were leaders in Rwanda. This was just the beginning of all the tragedy and violence of the genocide. During the next few weeks after the president's death, the Hutu killed any Tutsi they could find. They also killed any of the Hutus that were suspected of having ties with or helping the Tutsi in any way. The genocide finally ended after 100 days, when the RPF gained control of most of Rwanda. This caused thousands of the Hutu people to flee the country. They did this because they feared that they would be killed as punishment for the
The two main ethnic groups of the country, the Hutu and the Tutsi, had been put against each other by the countries that colonized them.
It all started with the Germans. They were the first to colonize and take over Rwanda. However, they were not there for long. Soon after their arrival, the Belgians took Rwanda from German control. The Belgians are the ones who are mainly responsible for the separation of the two ethnic groups in Rwanda. Although there had been some slight separation before, the Belgians took it quite a few steps further. The only real difference between the Hutu and the Tutsi is that the Hutu were farmers and also peasants, while the Tutsi were cattle herders who were often of higher status than the Hutu. Although they differed in this way, they always got along with each other. They share the same culture, religion, language, and many other things. Because of this, nationalism was fairly high. But, when the Belgians took over things in Rwanda, they separated the ethnic groups further by making distinctions between facial features on the people. Those with skin on the lighter side and who were …show more content…
This was because the Rwandan Patriotic Front, or the RPF, launched an attack on Rwanda from their base located in Uganda. The RPF consisted mainly of the Tutsi people. Since the government was led by the Hutu, they claimed that all of the Tutsi people were accomplices of the RPF, and also that any and all Hutu members of opposite parties were considered traitors. On April 6th of 1994, the Rwandan President, Juvenal Habyarimana, was killed after his plane was shot down. The Hutus blamed Tutsi rebels for this tragic accident. Within a day or so, the Hutu took down those who were leaders in Rwanda. This was just the beginning of all the tragedy and violence of the genocide. During the next few weeks after the president's death, the Hutu killed any Tutsi they could find. They also killed any of the Hutus that were suspected of having ties with or helping the Tutsi in any way. The genocide finally ended after 100 days, when the RPF gained control of most of Rwanda. This caused thousands of the Hutu people to flee the country. They did this because they feared that they would be killed as punishment for the