HUTU & TUTSIHUTU & TUTSI

Racial Classification Racial Classification

Belgians colonists divided Rwanda’s unified Belgians colonists divided Rwanda’s unified population into three distinct groups: Hutu, population into three distinct groups: Hutu, Tutsi, and TwaTutsi, and Twa

Belgians and Germans influenced by racist Belgians and Germans influenced by racist ideas, thought that the Tutsi were a superior ideas, thought that the Tutsi were a superior group because they were more “white” group because they were more “white” looking.looking.

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The size of the nose and the color of the The size of the nose and the color of the eyes were factors that determined whether a eyes were factors that determined whether a person was classified as Hutu, Tutsi, or person was classified as Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa.Twa.

The colonists believed that the Tutsi were The colonists believed that the Tutsi were natural rulers, so they put only Tutsis into natural rulers, so they put only Tutsis into positions of authority and discriminated positions of authority and discriminated against Hutus and Twa.against Hutus and Twa.

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The Hutus make up about 85% of The Hutus make up about 85% of Rwanda’s population, but they Rwanda’s population, but they were denied higher education, land were denied higher education, land ownership and positions in ownership and positions in government.government.

Independence and Hutu RuleIndependence and Hutu Rule

1959, violence between the Tutsi and Hutu 1959, violence between the Tutsi and Hutu erupted. erupted.

Hutu overthrew Tutsi rule, declared an Hutu overthrew Tutsi rule, declared an independent republic and elected first Hutu independent republic and elected first Hutu presidentpresident

Mass killings of Tutsis occurred during the Mass killings of Tutsis occurred during the transition to Hutu rule, hinting things to transition to Hutu rule, hinting things to come.come.

Review QuestionsReview Questions

1. Which group of people did the 1. Which group of people did the Belgians think were a superior group?Belgians think were a superior group?

2. Why did they think they were a 2. Why did they think they were a superior group?superior group?

3. Which group declared an independent 3. Which group declared an independent republic in 1959?republic in 1959?

First They Came for the JewsFirst They Came for the Jews

First they came for the JewsFirst they came for the Jewsand I did not speak outand I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.because I was not a Jew.Then they came for the CommunistsThen they came for the Communists

and I did not speak outand I did not speak outbecause I was not a Communist.because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak outand I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.because I was not a trade unionist.

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Then they came for meThen they came for me

and there was no one leftand there was no one left

to speak out for me.to speak out for me.

Pastor Martin Niemoller, 1945Pastor Martin Niemoller, 1945

RwandaRwanda

What’s going on?What’s going on?

VocabularyVocabulary

Genocide = the deliberate and systematic Genocide = the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political, extermination of a national, racial, political, or cultural group.or cultural group.

Refugee= a person who flees for refuge or Refugee= a person who flees for refuge or safety, esp. to a foreign country, as in time safety, esp. to a foreign country, as in time of political upheaval, war, etc.of political upheaval, war, etc.

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United Nations = The United Nations = The United Nations High Commissioner for HumUnited Nations High Commissioner for Human Rightsan Rights works to strengthen and coordinate United works to strengthen and coordinate United Nations work for the protection and Nations work for the protection and promotion of all human rights of all persons promotion of all human rights of all persons around the world. The Secretary-General around the world. The Secretary-General has made human rights the central theme has made human rights the central theme that unifies the Organization’s work.that unifies the Organization’s work.

NativesNatives The The TutsiTutsi are one of three native peoples of are one of three native peoples of

the nations of the nations of RwandaRwanda and and BurundiBurundi in central in central AfricaAfrica, the other two being the , the other two being the TwaTwa and the and the HutuHutu. The Twa (or Batwa) are a . The Twa (or Batwa) are a pygmypygmy people people and the original inhabitants. The Hutu (or and the original inhabitants. The Hutu (or Bahutu) are a people of Bahutu) are a people of BantuBantu origin, and since origin, and since they moved into the area they dominated the they moved into the area they dominated the Twa. Large numbers of all three were Twa. Large numbers of all three were slaughtered in the slaughtered in the Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide of of 19941994..

TutsiTutsi

The division between the Hutu and the The division between the Hutu and the TutsiTutsi, the larger of the other two groups, is based , the larger of the other two groups, is based more upon social class than ethnicity more upon social class than ethnicity

The Tutsi were people who migrated south The Tutsi were people who migrated south from what is now from what is now EthiopiaEthiopia, conquering the , conquering the Hutu kingdoms and establishing dominance Hutu kingdoms and establishing dominance over the Hutu and Twa between the 1400's over the Hutu and Twa between the 1400's and the 1700's. and the 1700's.

HutuHutu

The The HutuHutu are the largest of the three are the largest of the three ethnic groupsethnic groups in in BurundiBurundi and and RwandaRwanda

The Hutu ruled the area with a series of The Hutu ruled the area with a series of small kingdoms until the arrival of the Tutsi small kingdoms until the arrival of the Tutsi

Background informationBackground information

When German explorers first came to When German explorers first came to Rwanda they observed in the royal Rwanda they observed in the royal court a ruling class, the Tutsis, and a court a ruling class, the Tutsis, and a subservient class, the Hutus. This class subservient class, the Hutus. This class structure was maintained by the structure was maintained by the Belgians and the French missionaries Belgians and the French missionaries who followed, supporting as they did who followed, supporting as they did the Tutsi minority governing class. the Tutsi minority governing class.

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The Germans and Belgians colonial The Germans and Belgians colonial powers both preferred the Tutsi and powers both preferred the Tutsi and rewarded them with positions of power, rewarded them with positions of power, once Rwanda was granted once Rwanda was granted independence in 1962, battle for independence in 1962, battle for control over the government, control control over the government, control over the land and cattle, and control over the land and cattle, and control over the social standings began. over the social standings began.

Rwanda GenocideRwanda Genocide

Rwanda's 100 days of genocide began shortly afterRwanda's 100 days of genocide began shortly after

President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was shot down on President Juvenal Habyarimana's plane was shot down on 6 April 1994.6 April 1994.

As civil war continued between the mainly-HutuAs civil war continued between the mainly-Hutu government and the Tutsi-led rebel RPF, Hutugovernment and the Tutsi-led rebel RPF, Hutu militias began an orchestrated killing campaign.militias began an orchestrated killing campaign.

About 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus wereAbout 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed.killed.

Rwanda GenocideRwanda Genocide

During the During the Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide of 1994, of 1994, United NationsUnited Nations peacekeepers stepped back peacekeepers stepped back as Hutu extremists hundreds of thousands as Hutu extremists hundreds of thousands of Tutsis as well as moderate Hutu of Tutsis as well as moderate Hutu politicians. politicians.

As of 2006, violence between the Hutu and As of 2006, violence between the Hutu and Tutsi has subsided, but the situation in both Tutsi has subsided, but the situation in both Rwanda and Burundi is still tense, and tens Rwanda and Burundi is still tense, and tens of thousands of Rwandans are still of thousands of Rwandans are still living outside the countryliving outside the country. .

MassacreMassacre

The The Rwandan GenocideRwandan Genocide was the was the massacremassacre of an estimated 800,000 to 1,071,000 ethnic of an estimated 800,000 to 1,071,000 ethnic TutsisTutsis and moderate and moderate HutusHutus in Rwanda, in Rwanda, mostly carried out by two extremist Hutu mostly carried out by two extremist Hutu militia groups during a period of about 100 militia groups during a period of about 100 days from April 6th through mid-July 1994.days from April 6th through mid-July 1994.

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In the weeks prior to the attacks, the UN did In the weeks prior to the attacks, the UN did not respond to reports of Hutu militias.not respond to reports of Hutu militias.

The genocide ended when a Tutsi-dominated the rebel movement known as the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by Paul Kagame, overthrew the Hutu government and seized power.

BibliographyBibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_GenocideRwandan_Genocide