Matthew Paez

Rwandan Genocide

May 29, 2015

Dr. Case
Genocide In Rwanda

"'Genocide,' a term used to describe violence against members of a national,

ethnical, racial or religious group with the intent to destroy the entire group, came into
general usage only after World War II, when the full extent of the atrocities committed by
the Nazi regime against the Jews of Europe during that conflict became known" (1). But
how does this term translate into modern society, and why does Genocide occur? Often
cultural tension can lead to a genocide because one culture either seeks revenge or
power over another rivaling culture. A prime example of this comes from the small
African country of Rwanda where a massive genocide almost wiped out a whole race of
people due to tribal tensions that had existed even before European Imperialism. Due to
Europe imposing on Rwanda, tensions between tribal groups would grow to the point
where an entire culture was almost wiped off the face of the Earth and while all this was
going on, the rest of the world watched and let it happen.
Rwanda is a small, landlocked country that was one of the many African nation to
be exploited by European powers during times of Imperialism. The country was
controlled by Belgium from 1916-1962. Belgium ultimately would add more stress to the
tensions already between the two tribes in Rwanda, Tutsi and Hutu. Most Rwandans
are Hutu with more political power over the Tutsi minority. When the Belgians came into
Rwanda, they gave the Tutsi a higher social status and educated them because they
were more "aristocratic in appearance" (2). Unfortunately the Hutu's, who had always
had the majority of power in Rwanda, felt violated as the political tables had turned as
the Tutsi ruled over the Hutu. As the Tutsi began to abuse the power given to them the
social status of the Hutu began to grow lower and lower and led to very strong
resentment from the Hutu. Along with missionaries teaching the Hutu's Christianity, the
doctrine of the religion led the Hutu people to realize and feel even more repressed.
Then in 1959 the Hutus sought to regain power and rebelled against their Tutsi
landowners. This led the Tutsi to exile themselves to nearby countries to protect

themselves from the backlash Hutu power might have. The entrance of European
powers into Rwanda further divided the country and would be a main cause building up
to the beginning of Rwandan Genocide.
In 1962, the Rwanda gained independence from Belgium which made tribal
tensions even worse.