Topic 19: The Challenge to the Africa State: The 1994 Rwandan genocide
General information:
● Over 1 million unarmed Tutsi + politically moderate Hutus killed (13% of population)
● Rwanda’s health services, infrastructure and economy destroyed
● 40,000 households headed by children, millions homeless/penniless/traumatised
● 40% of Rwandans participated in crimes during genocide
● 500,000-800,000 deaths in the space of 3 months
● Over 2 million Hutu refugees fled, bringing disaster in neighbouring countries
Factor Evidence: Facts, Historians and Citations
Legacy of colonialism Colonial experience led to an authoritarian state, a legacy of violence and a predisposition
to ethnic divisions (Catherine Newbury).
Authoritarianism: membership of Habyarimana’s political party (MRND) was
compulsory and he was seen as the father of the nation; an idea mobilised after his
assassination (Adler, Loyle, Globerman and Larson). Centralising power and
delegating power/existing power structures.
Multiparty politics intensified ethnic tensions between and within ethnic groups (Adler,
Loyle, Globerman and Larson).
Politicisation of identity: pre-colonial Rwanda existed as a kingdom with a militarised,
ruling elite (hierarchy, centralising tendencies). The Twa were seen as uncivilised
(potters) whereas Tutsi were cattle herders and Hutu were farmers. Labels were fluid and
people could change caste. King Rwabugiri changes the level of Tutsi, leading to ethnic
polarisation.
Belgian colonial rule: ideology + practice of indirect Belgian rule resulted in the
politicisation of ethnicity and institutionalised racism.
- Hamitic hypothesis (Tutsi were descended from Europeans) and racial rule, 1933
census and identity cards, rigid and racialized classification (nasal index), role of
Tutsi Chiefs in indirect rule.
Car-crash decolonization: Tutsi slaughter in 1963. Hutu dictatorship and rule by ethnic
chauvinism produces structural violence and a foundation for genocidal edifice of 1994.
Internal factors Economic crises: In the 1980s, Rwanda faced economic problems as a result of increasing
population, land pressure, declining commodity prices and anger at government
corruption which led to multi-party elections (Antony Best). Economic downturn in
1993 as prices for main exports plummeted.
Political crises: Quick succession of political crises. In 1990, the RPF launched an
abortive invasion which failed but spurred the democracy movement. In 1992,
Habyarimana was forced to form a coalition government. In 1993, he signed the Aruya
peace agreement with the RPF.
Youth bulge: Tension, gangs, no prospects, unemployment, transitioning masculinity.
