Rwanda Genocide
By: Caitlin Foltz
What is genocide?
Genocide is the deliberate and systematic mistreatment or extermination of a national, racial, political, religious, or cultural group.
A Little Of Rwandas Background Information
-Rwanda is the poorest and most crowded country in Africa
-There are two politically religious groups in Rwanda; the Hutu and the Tutsi, who fought for power in 1959.
-Rwanda is known for its dancing, coffee, beautiful landscapes, and their mountain gorillas.
-It has become one of the most promising, Less Developed Countries (LDC) in the world.
-There are two politically religious groups in Rwanda; the Hutu and the Tutsi, who fought for power in 1959.
-Rwanda is known for its dancing, coffee, beautiful landscapes, and their mountain gorillas.
-It has become one of the most promising, Less Developed Countries (LDC) in the world.
The Rwanda Genocide
In 1994, one of "the most efficient mass killings since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" (Gourevitch) occurred in Rwanda. Named "The Rwanda Genocide", more than 800,000 people from a population of seven and a half million people were killed in 100 days. The killings were performed mostly by machetes by adults and children. Dead, mutilated babies were left on doorsteps. The heads of men, women, and even children were cut off. "The dead of Rwanda accumulated to almost three times the rate of Jewish deaths in the Holocaust" (Gourevitch). In that massacre, the roads of Rwanda were crowded with people running for their lives.
People fleeing, running down the streets
Children crying during the brutal killings
Machetes collected at the Rwandan border after the genocide
What Caused The Genocide?
In 1959, the two major political groups of Rwanda, called the Hutu and the Tutsi, fought for power. The Tutsi monarchy dominated until the Hutu rebelled. After a bloody war, the Hutu gained control of the government. The Hutu were very angry with the Tutsi. During 1994, the Hutu religion, in help with the government, murdered approximately 800,000 Tutsi, and even some Hutu. (World Book)
Effects Of The Genocide
Even 20 years later, people in Rwanda are still recovering. Just some of the effects are..
-Many Tutsi had to leave the country and leave most of their properties.
-Most that survived now have mental issues and experience trauma.
-Two million Hutu fled the country to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most were the ones who committed or led the killings.
-Many buildings, schools, homes, hospitals, churches, and roads were destroyed.
-Many of the children became orphans, due to the killings of their parents.
-Children have difficulty in their education.
-Many people were left poor.
-Many Tutsi had to leave the country and leave most of their properties.
-Most that survived now have mental issues and experience trauma.
-Two million Hutu fled the country to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Most were the ones who committed or led the killings.
-Many buildings, schools, homes, hospitals, churches, and roads were destroyed.
-Many of the children became orphans, due to the killings of their parents.
-Children have difficulty in their education.
-Many people were left poor.
Solutions to the Genocide / My Thoughts
Three years after the UN Security Council had intervened in Rwanda, they voted to create an international tribunal to try those who participated in the massacre. Rwanda did not agree to the non-use of the death penalty, but cooperated. It was not very effective. They only tried 18 defendants in the past 8 years. Many of the massacre participants were arrested, but were not put on trial. Also due to the fact that there is not enough room in the prisons, many were set free. Little is being done today.
Overall after researching this genocide, I feel that a terrible thing was done to the Rwandan people, and I hope it never happens again. I hope that by making this Smore, more people will become aware of the horrible affects of genocide, and will help to make sure it never happens again.
Overall after researching this genocide, I feel that a terrible thing was done to the Rwandan people, and I hope it never happens again. I hope that by making this Smore, more people will become aware of the horrible affects of genocide, and will help to make sure it never happens again.
Photos Of The Victims
Taking A Stand Against Genocide
The Many Dead Bodies Afterwords
Works Cited
Chege, Michael. “World Book Q.R.16”. Chicago, Illinois. World Book. 2007
“Effects of the 1994 Genocide”. http://effectsofthegenocide.blogspot.com/. 2007. 6,
March 2014.
Gourevitch, Philip. “We wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our
families”. New York, New York. Picador. 1998.
Rupp, Richard. “World Book G.8”. Chicago, Illinois. World Book. 2010.
“Rwanda”. http://www.globalyouthconnect.org/country_rwanda.html. 6, March 2014.
“Solutions”. http://rwanda-genocide.wikispaces.com/Solutions. 2014. 9, March 2014.