Although there are many reasons for any civil war to occur, the Rwandan Civil War follows in the footsteps of the many civil wars before it. The reasons behind the Rwandan Civil War are traced back to the rationalist explanation of war that states that war occurs due to indivisible issues which are impossible to reach agreement on. In 1990, an ethnic civil war ignited between the Hutus and Tutsis due to uncompromisable issues and long-standing resentment surrounding class division, bigotry, exile, and revenge. From the beginning tension existed between the two peoples. In the 1300s when the Tutsis migrated into present day Rwanda, it had already been established by the Hutu people. Overtime the 15% Tutsis population became the elite while
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In 1989, the world coffee prices collapsed leaving Rwanda with a wounded economy. The Rwandan Patriotic Front decided this was a perfect time to make their move. The RPF was a Ugandan-based rebel army made up mostly of Tutsi refugees. These Tutsis had experienced exile and Uganda’s ruthless dictatorship. These living conditions convinced the Tutsis that they needed to change their circumstances. In 1990, the RPF invaded Rwanda and the Rwandan Civil War began. Peace was briefly negotiated in 1993, however there was left over tension. The damage inflicted and issues present were too great to simply forget; Compromise could not be reached. Both sides wanted a fight. And in 1994, when Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana was killed in a plane crash supposedly caused by the RPF and a fight is exactly what transpired. This was the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide. Although many causes are attributed to the Rwandan Civil War, the rationalist explanation of war summarizes those causes well. The problems between the two peoples were too great to be solved agreeably. After years of widely divided classes, discrimination, exile, and lastly vengeful action, war was tempting to both groups. Both the Hutus and Tutsis felt that civil war was the most favorable option in dealing with their indivisible
In 1989, the world coffee prices collapsed leaving Rwanda with a wounded economy. The Rwandan Patriotic Front decided this was a perfect time to make their move. The RPF was a Ugandan-based rebel army made up mostly of Tutsi refugees. These Tutsis had experienced exile and Uganda’s ruthless dictatorship. These living conditions convinced the Tutsis that they needed to change their circumstances. In 1990, the RPF invaded Rwanda and the Rwandan Civil War began. Peace was briefly negotiated in 1993, however there was left over tension. The damage inflicted and issues present were too great to simply forget; Compromise could not be reached. Both sides wanted a fight. And in 1994, when Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimana was killed in a plane crash supposedly caused by the RPF and a fight is exactly what transpired. This was the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide. Although many causes are attributed to the Rwandan Civil War, the rationalist explanation of war summarizes those causes well. The problems between the two peoples were too great to be solved agreeably. After years of widely divided classes, discrimination, exile, and lastly vengeful action, war was tempting to both groups. Both the Hutus and Tutsis felt that civil war was the most favorable option in dealing with their indivisible