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Rwanda gain independence
In June 1962 UN General terminated the Belgian trusteeship and granted full independence to Rwana, it was effective on July 1, 1962. The leader of the PARMEHUTU Party was Rwanda's first elected president his name was Grégoire Kayibanda. The Kayibanda government promoted a Hutu-supremacist ideology, and a series of anti-Tutsi “pogroms”(series of massacres ) and other violence gravely affected internal security and provoked the further flight of Rwandan Tutsis. -
Radio Télévison des Milles Collines begins broadcasting
The Radio Télévison des Libre Milles Collines became the best way to listen to news, but it was also the voice of authority for most people. Rwandans listened to RTLMC (also known as "Radio Machete") everywhere, including at roadblocks during the killings. Messages transmitted by radio were listened to and orders issued during the broadcasts were followed. Ferdinand Nahimana was its founder and director. RTLMC told its listeners to identify Tutsis by their physical appearance, to "look at their -
General Dallaire receives an anonymous letter from within the Rwandan army
In early December, General Dallaire showed peace makers an anonymous letter he received threatening to clear out the Tutsi race. Most of Dallaire's efforts were to defend areas that he knew the Tutsis were hiding at. Dallaire's staff, often relied on its U.N. credentials to save Tutsis.Dallaire's actions are credited with directly saving the lives of 32,000 persons of different races. -
Hutu extremists begin killing their political opponents.
Hutu extremists began purging the government of their political opponents, which meant both Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed. Also the the prime minister was killed. The ten Belgian U.N. peacekeepers that tried to protect the prime minister, were killed too. The next several days and weeks, the violence began spread. Since the government had the names and addresses of nearly all Tutsis living in Rwanda the killers could go door to door, slaughtering the Tutsis because they had an identity c -
French, Belgian and American civilians are rescued by their governments.
France and Belgium send troops to rescue their citizens. American civilians are also airlifted out. No Rwandans were rescued, not even Rwandans employees by Western governments in their embassies or consulates. The French knew that a genocide was about to begin, and they did advised the Rwanda army. They just did not believe them. -
Slaughter of thousands of Tutsis gathered at Nyarubuye Church seeking protection.
Massacre at the Nyarubuye Roman Catholic Church, thousands of Tutsi are killed by grenades and guns and then by machetes and clubs. The victims had sought refuge in the church. Men, women and children were killed carelessly. The church and houses of the nuns and priest where the victims took refuge is now where the Nyarubuye Genocide Memorial Site. -
UN cuts soldiers
videoThe United Nations cut the number of troops in Rwanda by ninety percent leaving only about 270 soldiers there. By now the estimated number of people dead is over one hundred thousand. The prime minister is killed and the Belgians are disarmed, tortured, and shot and hacked to death. -
Many more are killed
videoThe International Rescue Committee estimated that five hundred thousand Rwandans have been killed. The slaughter of the Tutsis continues the U.N. decides to send six thousand eight hundred troops and policemen to Rwanda to defend civilians. Deployment of the U.N. forces is delayed because of arguments over who will pay the bill and provide the equipment. -
Safe-zones in south west Rwanda
U.N. Security Council refuses to dispatch an international force to police refugee camps. About six hundred Rwandan children are found camping in a huge warehouse in Bujumbura, after fleeing the southern Rwandan town of Butare. The children - both Hutu and Tutsi - were at a home for orphans and children that were separated from their families -
Genocide Ends
videoUN troops arrived in Rwanda, and the genocide came to an end. About 800,000 people were killed between April and mid-July. Although many people did believe the genocide had ended it still continues today. As we speak, Hutu rebels are in Congo are killing innocent Tutsis once again.
