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| {{Important}}{{Mature}}
| | [[File:Rwanda_genocide_wanted_poster_2-20-03.jpg|thumb|300px|The Rwandan Genocide wanted poster from left to right (top row): [[Felicien Kabuga]], [[Augustin Bizimana]], [[Jean-Baptiste Gatete]], [[Augustin Bizimungu]], [[Tharcisse Renzaho]]. (bottom row left to right): [[Idelphonse Hategekimana]], [[Augustin Ngirabatware]], [[Idelphonse Nizeyimana]], [[Protais Mpiranya]], [[Callixte Nzabonimana]]]]The '''Rwandan Genocide''' was a [[Genocide|genocidal]] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_murder mass slaughter] that took place in 1994 in the East African state of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda Rwanda]. Over the course of approximately 100 days (from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Juv%C3%A9nal_Habyarimana_and_Cyprien_Ntaryamira assassination of Juvénal Habyarimana and Cyprien Ntaryamira] on April 6 through mid-July) over 500,000 people were killed, according to a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Rights_Watch Human Rights Watch] estimate. Estimates of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_toll death toll] have ranged from 500,000–1,000,000, or as much as 20% of the country's total population. It was the culmination of longstanding ethnic competition and tensions between the minority [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tutsi Tutsi], who had controlled power for centuries, and the majority [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutu Hutu] peoples, who had come to power in the rebellion of 1959–62. |
| {{Act of Villainy
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| |image = Rwandan Genocide wanted poster.jpg | |
| |perpetrator = [[MRND]]<br>[[Interahamwe]]<br>''[[Akazu]]''<br>[[Impuzamugambi]]<br>[[Coalition for the Defence of the Republic]]<br>[[Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines]]<br>''[[Kangura]]''
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| |date = April 7, 1994 - July 15, 1994
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| |location = Rwanda
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| |motive = To exterminate all Tutsis in Rwanda (failed)
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| |crimes = [[Genocide]]<br>Mass [[murder]]<br>[[War crimes]]<br>[[Crimes against humanity]]<br>[[Rape]]<br>[[Ethnic cleansing]]<br>[[Misogyny]]<br>[[Xenophobia]]|name=Rwandan Genocide}}
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| {{Quote|In 1994 in the small African country of Rwanda, an estimated 75% of its minority Tutsi population was slaughtered in the most efficient genocide in history. In a mere 100 days, nearly a million people have killed a shocking average of 333 murders per hour. 5 per minute. Whether man, woman, or child no one was spared. This deeply interred genocide was the product of a generation of ethnic division and was executed through a carefully planned campaign of Hutu propaganda.|Introduction to a documentary about the Rwandan Genocide.}}
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| The '''Rwandan Genocide''' was a genocidal mass slaughter that took place in the spring and summer of 1994 in the East African country of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda Rwanda]. Over the course of approximately 100 days (from the assassination of President [[Juvénal Habyarimana]] on April 6<sup>th</sup> through mid-July) over 500,000 people were killed, according to a Human Rights Watch estimate.<ref name = genocide>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26875506 Rwanda genocide: 100 days of slaughter], ''BBC News''</ref> | |
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| Estimates of the death toll have ranged in totally 1,000,000, the 20% of the country's total population.<ref>[https://www.cairn-int.info/article-E_POPU_504_0401--the-death-toll-of-the-rwandan-genocide-a.htm The Death Toll of the Rwandan Genocide: A Detailed Analysis for Gikongoro Province], Cairn International</ref> It was the culmination of longstanding ethnic competition and tensions between the minority Tutsi, who had controlled power for centuries, and the majority Hutu peoples, who had come to power in the rebellion of 1959–62.
| | In 1990, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Patriotic_Front Rwandan Patriotic Front], a rebel group composed mostly of Tutsi refugees, invaded northern Rwanda from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda Uganda] in an attempt to defeat the Hutu-led government. They began the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War Rwandan Civil War], fought between the Hutu regime, with support from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francophone_Africa Francophone Africa] and France, and the RPF, with support from Uganda. This exacerbated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic ethnic] tensions in the country. In response, many Hutu gravitated toward the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutu_Power Hutu Power] ideology, with the prompting of state-controlled and independent Rwandan media. |
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| ==Background==
| | As an ideology, Hutu Power asserted that the Tutsi intended to enslave the Hutu and must be resisted at all costs. Continuing ethnic strife resulted in the rebels' displacing large numbers of Hutu in the north, plus periodic localized Hutu killings of Tutsi in the south. International pressure on the Hutu-led government of Juvénal Habyarimana resulted in a cease-fire in 1993. He planned to implement the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arusha_Accords Arusha Accords]. |
| ===Origins of the tension between Hutus and Tutsis===
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| During the period when Rwanda was a Belgian colony, the Tutsi ruled the region on Belgium's behalf. Belgium considered Tutsis to be genetically superior to Hutus, and often the ruling Tutsi elite would take Hutus as slaves. This practice continued for many years.<ref name = difference>[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/africa-july-dec99-rwanda_10-08#:~:text=Generally%20speaking%2C%20Hutus%20were%20an,some%20four%20hundred%20years%20ago. The Heart of the Hutu-Tutsi Conflict], ''PBS Newshour''</ref>
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| In the 1960's, the Hutus rebelled against colonial rule, with [[Grégoire Kayibanda]] and his [[Parmehutu]] party eventually taking power.<ref>[https://www.onwar.com/data/rwanda1959.html Revolution in Rwanda 1959-1961], ''OnWar.com''</ref> The Parmehutu regime perpetrated numerous mass killings against Tutsis during their years in power, planting the seeds for the tension between the two ethnic groups.<ref name = roots>[https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2021/06/10/roots-of-rwanda-genocide/?lp_txn_id=1427539 The Roots of Rwanda’s Genocide], ''The New York Review''</ref>
| | The assassination of Habyarimana in April 1994 set off a violent reaction, during which Hutu groups conducted mass killings of Tutsis (and also pro-peace Hutus, who were portrayed as "traitors" and "collaborators"). This genocide had been planned by members of the Hutu power group known as the Akazu, many of whom occupied positions at top levels of the national government; the genocide was supported and coordinated by the national government as well as by local military and civil officials and mass media. Alongside the military, primary responsibility for the killings themselves rests with two Hutu militias that had been organized for this purpose by political parties: the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi, although once the [[Genocide|genocide]] was underway a great number of Hutu civilians took part in the murders. It was the end of the peace agreement. The Tutsi RPF restarted their offensive, defeating the army and seizing control of the country. |
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| Also, in neighbouring Burundi, [[Michel Micombero]], a Tutsi, seized power in 1966. During his years in power, Burundian Hutus were persecuted and discriminated against, which encouraged anti-Tutsi sentiment in Rwanda. This was increased when Micombero perpetrated the genocide known as the ''[[Ikiza]]'' in an attempt to eliminate Burundi's Hutu population.<ref>[https://www.sciencespo.fr/mass-violence-war-massacre-resistance/en/document/burundi-killings-1972.html The Burundi Killings of 1972], Sciences Po</ref> Anti-Tutsi sentiment further grew in 1993 when [https://real-life-heroes.fandom.com/wiki/Melchior_Ndadaye Melchior Ndadaye], Burundi's first Hutu President, was assassinated by Tutsi hardliners within the army.<ref>[https://www.theafricareport.com/144924/burundi-who-benefited-from-the-killing-of-president-melchior-ndadaye/ Burundi: Who benefited from the killing of President Melchior Ndadaye?], ''The Africa Report''</ref>
| | Rwanda today has two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Rwanda public holidays] commemorating the incident, with Genocide Memorial Day on April 7th marking the start, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberation_Day Liberation Day] on July 4th marking the end. The week following April 7th is designated an official week of mourning. |
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| ===Rwandan Civil War===
| | One global impact of the Rwandan Genocide is that it served as impetus to the creation of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court International Criminal Court], so that ad hoc tribunals would not need to be created for future incidents of genocide, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crimes_against_humanity crimes against humanity] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_crimes war crimes]. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_Statute Rome Statute] is the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty treaty] that established the ICC, and was adopted at a diplomatic conference in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome Rome] on 17 July 1998. |
| In 1990, the [[Rwandan Patriotic Front]] (RPF), a rebel group composed mostly of Tutsi refugees under command of General [[Paul Kagame]], invaded northern Rwanda from Uganda in an attempt to defeat the Hutu-led government.<ref name = difference></ref> This sparked a [[Civil War|civil war]] in the country, fought between the Hutu regime of President Habyarimana, with support from Francophone Africa and France, and the RPF, with support from Uganda.<ref name = roots></ref> This exacerbated ethnic tensions in the country. In response, many Hutus gravitated toward the racist [[Hutu Power]] ideology (which asserted that Hutus were superior to Tutsis), with the prompting of state-controlled and independent Rwandan media.<ref name = roots></ref><ref name = power>[https://www.blackfacts.com/fact/hutu-power Hutu Power], ''Blackfacts''</ref>
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| As an ideology, Hutu Power asserted that the Tutsi intended to enslave the Hutu (much like they had during colonial rule) and must be resisted at all costs.<ref name = power></ref> Continuing ethnic strife resulted in the rebels' displacing large numbers of Hutu in the north, plus periodic localized Hutu killings of Tutsi in the south. International pressure on the Hutu-led government of Juvénal Habyarimana resulted in a cease-fire in 1993. He planned to implement the Arusha Accords, which would establish a coalition government between the ruling [[MRND]] party and the RPF.<ref>[https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/arusha-accord-signed-end-civil-war-rwanda The Arusha Accord is signed to end civil war in Rwanda], ''South African History Online''</ref>
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| ===Genocide===
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| The assassination of Habyarimana in April 1994 set off a violent reaction<ref>[https://www.cfr.org/blog/twe-remembers-juvenal-habyarimanas-plane-crashes-and-rwandan-genocide-begins TWE Remembers: Juvenal Habyarimana’s Plane Crashes and the Rwandan Genocide Begins], Council on Foreign Relations</ref>, during which Hutu groups conducted mass killings of Tutsis, pro-peace Hutus (who were portrayed as "traitors" and "collaborators"), and the Twa, Rwanda's indigenous pygmy peoples who are often described as the genocide's "forgotten victims."<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/25-years-after-genocide-rwanda-commemorates-those-killed--but-omits-one-group-that-was-almost-wiped-out/2019/04/05/afabebb4-557d-11e9-aa83-504f086bf5d6_story.html 25 years after genocide, Rwanda commemorates those killed — but omits one group that was almost wiped out], ''The Washington Post''</ref>
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| The genocide had been planned by members of the Hutu power group known as the [[Akazu]], a hardline sect of the MRND, many of whom occupied positions at top levels of the national government (including President Habyarimana's own wife); the genocide was supported and coordinated by the national government as well as by local military and civil officials and mass media.
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| Alongside the military, the primary responsibility for the killings themselves rests with two Hutu extremist militias that had been organized for this purpose by political parties: the [[Interahamwe]] and [[Impuzamugambi]] (with both militias effectively serving as government-sanctioned [[death squad]]s), although once the [[Genocide|genocide]] was underway a great number of Hutu civilians took part in the [[murder]]s.<ref>[https://www.aeaweb.org/research/mobilization-genocide-elites-rwanda Mobilizing the masses to murder], American Economic Association</ref> [[Looting]] also became commonplace, as was [[rape]] and sexual violence. The level of rape that occurred during the Rwandan Genocide was so high that it has been classified as "[[genocidal rape]]".<ref>[https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/shattered-lives-sexual-violence-during-rwandan-genocide-and-its Shattered Lives: Sexual Violence During the Rwandan Genocide and Its Aftermath], Office of Justice Programs</ref><ref>[http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/89/a-study-in-violence-examining-rape-in-the-1994-rwandan-genocide A Study in Violence: Examining Rape in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide], ''Inquiries Journal''</ref>
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| These mass killings effectively marked the end of the peace agreement, causing the RPF to restart their offensive. Ultimately, the RPF would emerge victoriously and put an end to the genocide with their capture of the capital city of Kigali in July 1994.<ref name = genocide></ref>
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| ===Aftermath and Legacy===
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| Some of the ''génocidaires'' that escaped into the Democratic Republic of the Congo would go on to found the [[FDLR|Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda]] (FDLR), a rebel group which fought on behalf of the DRC government under [[Laurent-Désiré Kabila]] against official Rwandan Army forces during the early years of the Second Congo War. The FDLR remains active in the DRC as part of the ongoing conflict in the Kivu region.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/cnews-us-rwanda-congodemocratic-fdlr-idCABREA370AU20140408 Decades after genocide, Congo struggles to dislodge Rwanda rebels], ''Reuters''</ref>
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| The spillover from the genocide would also indirectly lead to the beginning of the First Congo War.<ref>[https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2008/may/16/congo The roots of war in eastern Congo], ''The Guardian''</ref>
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| Rwanda today has two public holidays commemorating the incident, with Genocide Memorial Day on April 7<sup>th</sup> marking the start, and Liberation Day on July 4<sup>th</sup> marking the end. The week following April 7<sup>th</sup> is designated an official week of mourning.
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| One global impact of the Rwandan Genocide is that it served as the impetus to the creation of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, so that ''ad hoc'' tribunals would not need to be created for future incidents of genocide, [[crimes against humanity]] and [[war crimes]]. The Rome Statute is the treaty that established the ICC and was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on July 17<sup>th</sup>, 1998. The ICC would begin functioning in July 2002.<ref>[https://www.aba-icc.org/about-the-icc/evolution-of-international-criminal-justice/ Evolution of International Criminal Justice], ''International Criminal Court Project''</ref>
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| ==Perpetrators==
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| The perpetrators of the Rwandan Genocide are commonly known as ''génocidaires''.
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| ===Organizations===
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| *[[Akazu]]
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| *[[Coalition for the Defence of the Republic]]
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| *[[Impuzamugambi]]
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| *[[Interahamwe]]
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| *''[[Kangura]]''
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| *[[MRND]]
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| *[[Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines]]
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| ===Individuals===
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| *[[Jean-Paul Akayesu]]
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| *[[Théoneste Bagosora]]
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| *[[Jean-Bosco Barayagwiza]]
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| *[[François Bazaramba]]
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| *[[Valérie Bemeriki]]
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| *[[Simon Bikindi]]
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| *[[Augustin Bizimana]]
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| *[[Augustin Bizimungu]]
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| *[[Sylvestre Gacumbitsi]]
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| *[[Jean-Baptiste Gatete]]
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| *[[Agathe Habyarimana]]
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| *[[Idelphonse Hategekimana]]
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| *[[Alphonse Higaniro]]
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| *[[Noël Hitimana]]
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| *[[Felicien Kabuga]]
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| *[[Robert Kajuga]]
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| *[[Jean Kambanda]]
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| *[[Jean de Dieu Kamuhanda]]
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| *[[Froduald Karamira]]
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| *[[Édouard Karemera]]
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| *[[Fulgence Kayishema]]
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| *[[Maria Kisito and Gertrude Mukangango|Maria Kisito]]
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| *[[Callixte Mbarushimana]]
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| *[[Protais Mpiranya]]
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| *[[Sylvestre Mudacumura]]
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| *[[Pierre Mugabo]]
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| *[[Léon Mugesera]]
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| *[[Maria Kisito and Gertrude Mukangango|Gertrude Mukangango]]
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| *[[Désiré Munyaneza]]
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| *[[Pheneas Munyarugarama]]
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| *[[Beatrice Munyenyezi]]
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| *[[Wenceslas Munyeshyaka]]
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| *[[Samuel Musabyimana]]
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| *[[Ferdinand Nahimana]]
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| *[[Grégoire Ndahimana]]
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| *[[Samuel Ndashyikirwa]]
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| *[[Aloys Ndimbati]]
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| *[[Hassan Ngeze]]
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| *[[Augustin Ngirabatware]]
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| *[[Athanase Ngirinshuti]]
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| *[[Eliézer Niyitegeka]]
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| *[[Idelphonse Nizeyimana]]
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| *[[Ladislas Ntaganzwa]]
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| *[[Arsène Shalom Ntahobali]]
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| *[[Elizaphan Ntakirutimana]]
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| *[[Dominique Ntawukulilyayo]]
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| *[[Bernard Ntuyahaga]]
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| *[[Anne-Marie Nyirahakizimana]]
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| *[[Pauline Nyiramasuhuko]]
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| *[[Callixte Nzabonimana]]
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| *[[Étienne Nzabonimana]]
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| *[[Emmanuel Rekeraho]]
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| *[[Tharcisse Renzaho]]
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| *[[Georges Ruggiu]]
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| *[[Emmanuel Rukundo]]
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| *[[Georges Rutaganda]]
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| *[[Eugene Rwamucyo]]
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| *[[Gitera Rwamuhizi]]
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| *[[Innocent Sagahutu]]
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| *[[Laurent Semanza]]
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| *[[Athanase Seromba]]
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| *[[Theodore Sindikubwabo]]
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| *[[Pascal Simbikangwa]]
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| *[[Juvenal Uwilingiyimana]]
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| *[[Protais Zigiranyirazo]]
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| ==Videos==
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| <YouTube width=320 height=180>https://youtu.be/db3dT9ubQaY</YouTube>
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| <YouTube width=320 height=180>https://youtu.be/VccTvkAiksg</YouTube>
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| <YouTube width=320 height=180>https://youtu.be/EWcKnp-e-ow</YouTube>
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| ==References==
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| {{Reflist}}
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| [[Category:List]] | | [[Category:List]] |
| [[Category:Villainous Event]] | | [[Category:Villainous Event]] |
| [[Category:Murderer]] | | [[Category:Murderer]] |
| [[Category:Genocidal]]
| | [[Category:Mass Murderer]] |
| [[Category:Modern Villains]]
| | [[Category:Heartless Causing Of Evil]] |
| [[Category:Destroyer of Innocence]]
| | [[Category:Genocidal Villain]] |
| [[Category:Xenophobes]]
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| [[Category:Mass Murderers]] | |
| [[Category:Terrorists]]
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| [[Category:War Criminal]]
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| [[Category:Government support]]
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| [[Category:Oppressors]]
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| [[Category:Mutilators]]
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| [[Category:Misogynists]]
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| [[Category:Misopedists]]
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| [[Category:Tyrants]]
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| [[Category:Animal Cruelty]]
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| [[Category:Islamophobes]] | |
| [[Category:Wrathful]]
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| [[Category:Chaotic Evil]]
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| [[Category:African Villains]] | |
| [[Category:Iconoclasts]]
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| [[Category:Rwanda]]
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| [[Category:Rapists]]
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| [[Category:Supremacists]]
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| [[Category:Misanthropes]]
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| [[Category:Anti-LGBT]]
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| [[Category:Anti-Religious]]
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