Rwandan Genocide

By C.Tredinnick

  • Belgian colonists give Tutsis superiority

  • Riots begin after the death of the Rwandan King - 20,000 Tutsis killed over the duration

    The Belgians changed their support to the Hutus at this time

  • Rwandan independence and the Hutus gain power

  • President Juvenal Habyarimana killed

  • Tutsis and moderate Hutu politcians rounded up and masacred

    The UN forces were ordered not to inervene - only to monitor the situation

  • Situation is debated in the UN Security Council

    The Security Council refused to declare it a 'genocide' becasue that would mean the UN forces would haveto intervene.

  • UN agrees to send 6,800 troops & policemen to protect the civilians

    This deployment was delayed because of an argument over who would pay the bills and supply the equipment. The UN Security Council resolution says "acts of genocide may have been committed".

  • Massacres stop

    Hutu extremists and interahamwe leaders escape to refugee camps in neighbouring countries where Tutsis are also staying. The Hutus continued to exercise power over them and the killing of Tutsis continued. It was this crisis that lead to the world recognising genocide in Rwanda. Around 800,000 and 1,071,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were murdered. Thousands more were mutilated, maimed, or physically scared for life. The affect mentally cannot be measured.