In 1994, the African country of Rwanda was plunged into a horrific campaign of mass murder that lasted for 100 days. Neighbor turned against neighbor, resulting in the deaths of over one-tenth of the country’s population. The seeds of this conflict were planted a century earlier when German, and later Belgian, colonizers arrived in the country.
At the time, Rwanda was ruled by a monarchy of Tutsi, one of the three ethnic groups comprising the population. The Tutsi and the even smaller Twa communities were minority groups, while the Hutu composed the majority. Many Hutus and Tutsi civilians were on good terms, but colonial powers encouraged political division. Belgians enforced record-keeping around ethnic identity and created a public narrative that cast Tutsi as elite rulers and Hutu as ordinary farmers. Over time, this propaganda led to intense political hostility.
While colonial powers had largely withdrawn by 1959, lingering anger motivated a Hutu revolt, forcing many Tutsi leaders to flee the country. Over the following decade, Rwanda transitioned to an independent republic with a Hutu government. This new administration argued that as the majority group, Hutu deserved exclusive access to political power. They excluded the Tutsi minority by appointing offices based on population and prohibited the return of Tutsi families that had fled years earlier. Hutu extremists also circulated propaganda blaming Tutsi for the country’s economic, social, and political problems.
Discontent with their life in exile, a small group of Tutsi insurgents invaded Rwanda in 1990, beginning a violent civil war. The conflict lasted three years before it was resolved with a formal peace accord. But the war’s aftermath was rife with insecurity. While some civilians in both groups remained amicable, the treaty intensified political polarization. And in 1994, when a plane carrying the Hutu Rwandan president was shot down, the conflict broke out anew.
This time, Hutu officials had prepared a deadly response to ensure they stayed in power. Working off a list of targets, government-funded Hutu militias flooded the streets, perpetrating acts of physical and sexual violence against Tutsi political enemies and civilians. Over the chaotic following months, over 1 million Hutu civilians joined their ranks due to coercion, self-preservation, or the pursuit of personal agendas.
Tutsi victims sought refuge at churches and schools where they hoped international organizations would protect them, but no outside party came to their aid. UN soldiers who’d overseen the Peace Accord were instructed to abandon Tutsi civilians, and UN leadership refused to acknowledge the genocide taking place. The violence didn’t end until mid-July when the Tutsi army— who instigated the previous civil war—seized control of the country. By the time the fighting was over, roughly 800,000 Rwandans had been killed, and only a small fraction of the Tutsi population was left alive.
In the months that followed, there was no easy strategy for bringing the killers to justice. The UN established a special tribunal in Tanzania to try the key perpetrators. But Hutu civilians from every level of society had committed atrocities against their neighbors, friends, and even family members. There were roughly 120,000 Rwandans awaiting trial, and inmates were dying from overcrowding and poor hygiene. The new Rwandan government estimated it would take 100 years to prosecute every accused civilian in a national court.
So officials determined the best path forward involved looking to the country’s past. Rwanda has a traditional process for resolving interpersonal conflicts called Gacaca. Roughly translating to “justice on the grass,” Gacaca had long been used to address offenses within villages. Local witnesses would offer testimony and could then speak for or against the accused. Then, appointed lay judges would determine an appropriate penalty within the community’s means.
In the hope of trying perpetrators more quickly, the government adapted gacaca for their formal courts. These hybrid trials had no professional attorneys or judges, no evidence outside the spoken word, and a case file detailing the crimes of the accused. All charges were then divided into four categories: masterminding the genocide and committing acts of sexual violence, participating in the killings, physical assault, or destroying Tutsi property. Those found guilty of the first two categories were entered into the traditional court system, but the other crimes were assigned set penalties which could be reduced if the accused pled guilty.
Beginning in 2002, thousands of gacaca courts convened every week. The process proved faster than conventional courts, but Rwandan opinion on the trials was mixed. Some didn’t want to accuse their neighbors in a community setting, and many potential witnesses were intimidated to prevent their testimony. Additionally, while the trial showed that not all Hutu participated in the killings, the courts only reviewed cases with Tutsi victims, ignoring the Hutu casualties incurred during the genocide and the preceding civil war.
When the trials concluded in 2012, the courts had convicted 1.7 million individuals. For some families, these verdicts helped restore the dignity of those lost in the violence. For others, the trials were a decade-long reminder of a past they were desperate to leave behind.
Create an interactive timeline that outlines the key events leading up to, during, and after the Rwandan Genocide. Use online tools like Tiki-Toki or TimelineJS to add images, videos, and detailed descriptions. This will help you visualize the sequence of events and understand the historical context better.
Participate in a role-playing debate where you assume the roles of different stakeholders during the Rwandan Genocide, such as Tutsi civilians, Hutu extremists, UN officials, and international journalists. This activity will help you understand the perspectives and motivations of various groups involved in the conflict.
Conduct research on the Gacaca courts and their role in post-genocide Rwanda. Prepare a presentation that includes the structure, process, and outcomes of these courts. Discuss the pros and cons of this traditional justice system and its impact on Rwandan society.
Watch a documentary about the Rwandan Genocide, such as “Ghosts of Rwanda” or “Shake Hands with the Devil.” After the screening, participate in a guided discussion to reflect on the film’s content, the emotional impact, and the lessons learned from the genocide.
Write a short story or a series of diary entries from the perspective of a Rwandan teenager during the genocide. This creative writing exercise will help you empathize with the experiences of young people who lived through this tragic period and understand the human side of historical events.
Mass murder – The deliberate and systematic killing of a large number of people. – The recent shooting spree in the city was classified as a mass murder, leaving the community in shock and mourning.
Conflict – A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one. – The ongoing conflict between the two neighboring countries has resulted in the displacement of thousands of innocent civilians.
Colonial powers – Nations or states that exercise control over a territory or people outside their own borders, often for economic and political gain. – During the 19th century, several European colonial powers established control over vast regions of Africa, exploiting its resources and imposing their rule.
Ethnic identity – A person’s sense of belonging to a particular ethnic or cultural group. – Growing up in a multicultural neighborhood, she embraced her ethnic identity and celebrated the traditions of her ancestors.
Political division – The separation or disagreement between different political parties, groups, or factions within a society. – The country’s political division became evident during the heated debates leading up to the election, with citizens expressing strong support for opposing candidates.
Hutu Power – A political movement in Rwanda during the 1990s that advocated for the dominance and empowerment of the Hutu ethnic group, leading to ethnic tensions and ultimately the genocide. – Hutu Power gained significant influence in Rwanda, fueling hatred and contributing to the tragic events that unfolded in the following years.
Civil war – A war between different groups or factions within the same country, often resulting in widespread violence and destruction. – The country was torn apart by a brutal civil war, with families being separated and communities devastated by the conflict.
Genocide – The deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. – The international community was horrified by the reports of genocide committed in the region, prompting calls for immediate intervention to prevent further loss of life.
Justice – The quality of being fair and reasonable, typically in relation to the punishment of wrongdoing or the protection of rights. – The victims’ families sought justice for their loved ones, hoping that the perpetrators would be held accountable for their heinous crimes.
Reconciliation – The restoration of friendly relations or harmony between individuals or groups after a period of conflict or disagreement. – The process of national reconciliation was crucial in healing the wounds of the past and building a more inclusive and united society.
