There have been many tragedies in the world, unfortunately the Rwandan Genocide fits into this category. After Rwanda’s colonial period the ruling Belgians of Rwanda favored the Tutsi minority over the Hutu majority, it caused increasing tension between the two ethnic groups that made up the Rwandan population. Hutu made up about 85% of the population and Tutsi made up the rest. Tension between the two groups later turned into great violence spread throughout the country. In July of 1962 Belgium granted independence to Rwanda. After Belgium granted them their independence, the Hutu people took their place. For example, in 1959 the Hutu people forced about 30,000 Tutsis to flee the country. By 1961 they forced the Tutsi monarchy into exile
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Although the two ethnic groups shared the same religion, spoke the same language and lived in the same villages, they were considered to be very different from one another. It was said mostly by European colonialists such as Germans and Belgians that, Tutsis were taller, had pale skin and had European facial features. Tutsis were usually educated in missionary schools and trained to be Catholic priests, they were also wealthier than the Hutu people due to the fact that they usually owned cattle. The Hutu people were darker skinned, shorter and had flatter noses than the Tutsis. They were also usually pastoralists, otherwise known as sheep farmers. The Belgians considered the Tutsi minority to be superior over the Hutu majority, because of this the Tutsis enjoyed having better jobs and opportunities than the neighboring Hutu people for the next 20 …show more content…
Rumors were going around that the plane carrying Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana was shot down by Tutsi youths ordered by Tutsi president Paul Kagame. Of course Kagame denied this, and said that it was done by Hutu extremists. Either way, this angered the Hutu people, which caused the killings of the Tutsi people to start the next day.The genocide began in April of 1994 and lasted for 100 days. According to BBC News there had always been disagreements between both ethnic groups, but the death of the Hutu president is the main reason that caused the violence to
Although the two ethnic groups shared the same religion, spoke the same language and lived in the same villages, they were considered to be very different from one another. It was said mostly by European colonialists such as Germans and Belgians that, Tutsis were taller, had pale skin and had European facial features. Tutsis were usually educated in missionary schools and trained to be Catholic priests, they were also wealthier than the Hutu people due to the fact that they usually owned cattle. The Hutu people were darker skinned, shorter and had flatter noses than the Tutsis. They were also usually pastoralists, otherwise known as sheep farmers. The Belgians considered the Tutsi minority to be superior over the Hutu majority, because of this the Tutsis enjoyed having better jobs and opportunities than the neighboring Hutu people for the next 20 …show more content…
Rumors were going around that the plane carrying Rwandan president Juvenal Habyarimana was shot down by Tutsi youths ordered by Tutsi president Paul Kagame. Of course Kagame denied this, and said that it was done by Hutu extremists. Either way, this angered the Hutu people, which caused the killings of the Tutsi people to start the next day.The genocide began in April of 1994 and lasted for 100 days. According to BBC News there had always been disagreements between both ethnic groups, but the death of the Hutu president is the main reason that caused the violence to