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Understanding the Rwandan Genocide
Written and Researched By: Nandana Jeevan
Published By: Meredith Yuen
Published: 19th January 2026
Amidst a tragic history of colonialism and ethnic conflict, the Rwandan Genocide serves as a stark reminder of the depths of human violence and the critical importance of fostering peace and understanding.
History behind the conflict
The Rwandan genocide occurred in April of 1994, lasting over 100 days and marking itself as one of history’s most infamous genocides. To understand how this situation unfolded, it is imperative to consider the complicated history shaping this event.
During the Belgian colonial era, Rwanda was a small country with one of the highest population densities across Africa. The nation was composed of many ethnic groups, with roughly 85% of its population belonging to the Hutu group and the rest belonging to the Tutsi, Twa, and Pygmy groups. As European influences intensified, Rwanda became a part of the Belgian trusteeship territory of Ruanda-Urundi (with neighboring country Burundi), with the intention of leading the nations to self-governance (HISTORY.com Editors, 2009). However, during this period of limited control of affairs, the Belgian government implemented a system of indirect rule, favoring the Tutsi minority in administrative roles, ultimately deepening ethnic divisions and fueling resentment between the Hutu and Tutsi groups. When the Hutu majority assumed power following Rwanda’s independence in 1962, this resentment culminated in widespread discrimination against the Tutsi community (University of Minnesota, n.d.).
(Ruanda-Urundi (Also known as Belgium East Africa), Big Blue 1840-1940 Stamp blog, Jul 31, 2013)
The Hutu revolution (also known as the Rwandan revolution) from 1959 to 1962 saw a period of social unrest and violence between the Hutu and the Tutsi groups, resulting in the transition from a Tutsi monarchy to a Hutu-dominated republic. In late 1959, tensions eventually escalated into conflict, as a series of coordinated attacks led by the Hutu militia targeted Tutsi, leading to mass killings and the displacement of Tutsi populations (Britannica, 2026). Following this in 1961, a coup was staged by Hutu leaders, officially removing the Tutsi King, King Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, from power, effectively marking the end of the Tutsi monarchy (Roberts, 2016).
In 1990, tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi groups were reignited as a civil war broke out between the government’s armed forces and the Tutsi-led rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). A ceasefire was initially negotiated in 1991, as agreements between the RPF and Hutu president Juvénal Habyarimana were signed, moving towards the creation of an interim government structure that was inclusive of the RPF. This power-sharing plan was strongly opposed by Hutu extremists, further perpetuating anti-Tutsi hatred and laying the foundation for the 1994 genocide (Britannica, 2026).
(What led to the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda?, Jeremy Maron, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, June 26, 2019)
The Genocide
On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Habyarimana and Burundi’s president Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down over the capital of Kigali, resulting in the deaths of both and effectively marking the start of the genocide. Confusion regarding the perpetrator of this murder instantly erupted, with members of the Hutu extremists and Tutsi RPF group blaming each other. To this day, it has never been conclusively identified who was responsible for the tragedy (University of Minnesota, n.d.). In the aftermath of the attack, Hutu militia groups known as the Interahamwe (“Those Who Attack Together”) and Impuzamugambi (“Those Who Have the Same Goal”) carried out targeted attacks against the Tutsi population in Rwanda (HISTORY.com Editors, 2009).
Within hours of the crash, the armed Interahamwe group, along with members of the presidential guard, set up roadblocks and barricades with the purpose of identifying members of the Tutsi group using their Rwandan identity cards. Violence against the Tutsi community became widespread, as members of the Hutu militia resorted to going from house to house, looking for members of the Tutsi minority to slaughter. In addition, Tutsi women and girls were systematically raped by government officials and militia members on a large scale (Maron & Nyilinkwaya, 2019).
(The Role of Colonial Racism in the Genesis of the Rwandan Genocide: A Legal and Historical Analysis, Linnet Irene Borsari, Feb 24, 2025)
Moderate Hutu who refused to participate in the genocide were unspared and were also killed alongside the Tutsi. Within a short period of time, almost 20% of Rwanda’s population was killed, primarily through the brutal use of machetes. Although numbers are exact, an estimate of around 500,000 to 600,000 individuals were killed over the 100-day genocide period. Throughout this period, the RPF resumed fighting in an attempt to gain control over the nation. Eventually, the genocide officially ended in early July, when the RPF was successful in gaining control over the majority of Rwanda (University of Minnesota, n.d.).
Aftermath of the genocide
Following the succession of the Tutsi-controlled RPF, an estimated 2 million individuals were forced to flee Rwanda, leading to overcrowding of refugee camps established in Congo (previously called Zaire) (HISTORY.com Editors, 2009). Several women also began exhibiting signs of sexually transmitted HIV infection, following the rape of an estimated 500,000 women across Rwanda. This issue took years to be addressed, as the disease was not easily recognized due to the priority being established for life-threatening wounds. At the time, Rwanda lacked the infrastructure to deal with AIDS testing and treatment and was therefore unable to provide adequate healthcare services to those affected by the epidemic. (Bouet, 2021)
A large number of individuals accused of participating in the genocide were prosecuted for their crimes and were tried in courts across Rwanda or the countries that they fled to. Due to the overwhelming number of suspects considered to have participated in the genocide, the use of local village-based Gacaca courts (grass courts) was promoted. These courts were based on Rwandan judicial principles, with heads of households serving as the judges and jury. Villagers were able to implicate people that they had witnessed participating in the genocide, eventually filling up a majority of prisons in Rwanda with those convicted through Gacaca courts (Britannica, 2026).
(Rwanda's traditional gacaca courts have been controversial, BBC, June 18, 2012)
In an attempt to alleviate the overcrowding of jails, prisoners accused of minor crimes were granted amnesty after confessing to the genocide and eventually released. This led to discomfort between the citizens, as many survivors were forced to live beside individuals that they witnessed participation in the genocide. These tensions between the survivors and the accused, although being severely downplayed by the government, still exist to date.
Rwanda has made significant strides following the genocide, shown by relative political stability under the leadership of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) and President Paul Kagame. Economically, Rwanda has transformed into one of Africa's fastest-growing economies, driven by significant investments into infrastructure and technology. However, certain challenges still remain in fully healing societal wounds, which will require a commitment to unity in order to strive for a bright future.
Glossary:
Genocide: The killing or persecution of a large number of people from a specific national or ethnic group
Trusteeship territory: A region that is non-self-governed and instead managed by another country or organization
Indirect rule: A system where colonial powers govern a territory by using local leaders to maintain order while keeping overall control.
Militia: A group of armed civilians who are organized to provide military support
Coup: A sudden and illegal takeover of government power, typically carried out by a small group
Amnesty: A formal agreement or decision that pardons individuals for criminal offenses
References:
University of Minnesota. (n.d.). Holocaust and Genocide Studies: Rwanda. College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved January 10, 2026, from https://cla.umn.edu/chgs/holocaust-genocide-education/resource-guides/rwanda
Britannica. (2026, January 5). Rwandan genocide of 1994 | Summary, History, Date, Background, Deaths & Facts. Britannica. Retrieved January 10, 2026, from https://www.britannica.com/event/Rwanda-genocide-of-1994
HISTORY.com Editors. (2009, 10 14). Rwandan Genocide. History. Retrieved January 10, 2026, from https://www.history.com/articles/rwandan-genocide
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. (n.d.). Life before the Genocide. Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. https://hmd.org.uk/learn-about-the-holocaust-and-genocides/rwanda/life-before-the-genocide/
Roberts, S. (2016, October 21). Kigeli V, the Last King of Rwanda, Dies at 80. The New York Times. Retrieved January 11, 2026, from https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/23/world/africa/kigeli-v-dead.html
Maron, J., & Nyilinkwaya, J. (2019, June 26). What led to the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda? | CMHR. Canadian Museum for Human Rights. Retrieved January 10, 2026, from https://humanrights.ca/story/what-led-genocide-against-tutsi-rwand
Bouet, L. (2021, July 25). AIDS as a Weapon of War: The Trauma of the Rwandan Genocide. Human Rights Pulse.
https://www.humanrightspulse.com/mastercontentblog/aids-as-a-weapon-of-war-the-trauma-of-the-rwandan-genocide
