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Belgians colonize and favoritism begins
VideoLinkIt all began when Rwanda was first settled, people who owned the most cattle were called Tutsi and others were called Hutu. The terms became racial when Europeans colonized Rwanda. The Germans colonized first in 1894 and they believed Tutsi looked more European because of their lighter skin and tall statures so they gave Tutsi’s the roles of responsibility. After WWI Belgians took over Rwanda and issued that everyone had to have an identity card that labeled them as Tutsi, Hutu,and Twa. -
Hutu Rebellion against Tutsi's and Belgians
LinkIn 1959 the Hutu's rebelled against the Tutsi's and Belgians. The Hutu's began stripping Tutsi communities of their land and eventually the Tutsi monarchy was abolished in 1961. -
Rwanda gains independence
LinkThe United Nations Trusteeship council convinced Belgian to give Rwanda its independence. The leader of the Parmehutu or what is now the Democratic Republican movement, was Gregoire Kayibanda. Elections were won in 1965 and 1969 by MDR -
Juvenal Habyarimana takes control in a bloodless coup
LinkHabyarimana led a bloddless coup in 1973 that kept him in power for twenty plus years. He was a former army officer who rose threw the ranks and became head of the national guard and the countries police. He became a confidant to president Gregoire Kayibanda and was appointed a major general but in july of the same year killed him because he hadn't taken adequate steps to end tribal and regional conflicts -
RPF invade Rwanda starting a Civil War
LinkThe RPF was a political and military movement that was created by Tutsi refugees that were in Uganda. They demanded Rwandan unity in 1990 they invaded Rwanda but were driven from Rwanda by troops from France and Zaire who were defending the Rwandan government. The Tutsi in Rwanda were blamed for the invasion. The Rwandan government massacre around 2000 Tutsi in retaliation. -
The Arusha Accords are agreed upon, opening government positions to both Hutu and Tutsi.
LinkPresident Habyarimana was Hutu he had run a totalitarian regime in Rwanda since 1973 that had prevented all Tutsi's from participating. That changed in 1993 when the president signed the Arusha Accords and weakened Hutu's hold on Rwanda. It also made it possible for Tutsi's to participate in the government which angered Hutu extremists. -
Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana is killed.
Link The president's jet circled the Kigali international airport then finally began its landing. Suddenly the wing was instantaneously struck by a missile then the tail was hit by another missile on the tail. The plane burst into flames instantly and crashed into the presidential gardens where it exploded on impact. -
Hutu extremists begin killing political opponents
LinkThe Hutu Extremists began getting rid of political opponents they started killing Hutu moderates and Tutsi's. The prime minister was included in this so he was also killed. Ten Belgian U.N peace keepers tried to protect the Prime Minister and they were also killed . After these events Belgian started to remove troops from Rwanda. The violence began to spread rapidly through Rwanda. -
Massacre at Gikondo
VideoLinkSome consider this massacre the beginning of the Rwandan genocide. 110 Tutsi's were murdered including children. It took place at a church in Kigali, the Polish mission church. The attack was carried out by the Interahamwe a militia controled by the Hutu presidential guard. The Interhamwe entered the church and began checking identity cards the Tutsi's were killed and the Hutu were told to leave the church. -
End of Genocide
VideoLinkThe RPF launched an offensive against the Interhamwe. They wanted to stop the Interhamwe's plans and drive them back they succeeded in mid-july. They defeated 35000 of the army and drove the rest back into Zaire. They took control of Kigali and demanded a ceasefire. The United Nations returned with aid to bring back basic services and to maintain order and a new government was organized.
