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Both Germany and Belgium turned the traditional Hutu-Tutsi relationship into a class system. The minority Tutsi (14%) are favored over the Hutus (85%) and given privileges and western-style education. The Belgians used the Tutsi minority to enforce their rule.
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Hutus rebel against the Belgian colonial power and the Tutsi elite. Than, 150,000 Tutsis flee to Burundi.
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Rwanda and Burundi become two separate and independent countries. A Hutu revolution in Rwanda installs a new president, Gregoire Kayibanda; fighting continues and thousands of Tutsis are forced to flee. In Burundi, Tutsis retain power. This starts in 1961 and ends in 1963.
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Rwanda and Burundi become two separate and independent countries. A Hutu revolution in Rwanda installs a new president, Gregoire Kayibanda; fighting continues and thousands of Tutsis are forced to flee. In Burundi, Tutsis retain power. This started in 1963 but ended in 1976.
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The Rwandan army begins to train and arm civilian militias known as interahamwe ("Those who stand together") For the next three years Habyarimana stalls on the establishment of a genuine multi-party system with power-sharing. Throughout this period thousands of Tutsis are killed in separate massacres around the country. Opposition politicians and newspapers are persecuted. This ends in 1991.
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Hutus are massacred in Refugee camps in Rwanda. Thousands of hutus and tutsis are killed during this war/ massacre.
