history of conflict between hutus and tutsis
Beginnings:
Rwanda has a population of 7 million people with 3 major ethnic groups: the Hutus (85% of the population), the Tutsis (14% of the population and the Twa (1% of the population) . However, Rwanda is plagued with a history of ethnic violence specifically between the Hutus (majority) and the Tutsi (minority). Yet, both ethnic groups share a common past. At the beginning of settlement in Rwanda (between five hundred and a thousand BC), the distinction between the Hutus and the Tutsi was blurred. On the one hand, the Hutus first settled in the Great Lake region of Central Africa and were agricultural people who lived in large family groups. On the other hand, the Tutsis (aka Watutsis) were slightly taller, nomadic people who also settled in the Great Lake region and are thought to have originated from Ethiopia four hundred years ago. Because the Tutsis were not "originally" from the Great Lake region, during the genocide, many of the killers/perpetrators threw the bodies of Tutsis down the river saying that “they were being sent back to Ethiopia”( Rwanda: How the Genocide Happened”).
Rwanda has a population of 7 million people with 3 major ethnic groups: the Hutus (85% of the population), the Tutsis (14% of the population and the Twa (1% of the population) . However, Rwanda is plagued with a history of ethnic violence specifically between the Hutus (majority) and the Tutsi (minority). Yet, both ethnic groups share a common past. At the beginning of settlement in Rwanda (between five hundred and a thousand BC), the distinction between the Hutus and the Tutsi was blurred. On the one hand, the Hutus first settled in the Great Lake region of Central Africa and were agricultural people who lived in large family groups. On the other hand, the Tutsis (aka Watutsis) were slightly taller, nomadic people who also settled in the Great Lake region and are thought to have originated from Ethiopia four hundred years ago. Because the Tutsis were not "originally" from the Great Lake region, during the genocide, many of the killers/perpetrators threw the bodies of Tutsis down the river saying that “they were being sent back to Ethiopia”( Rwanda: How the Genocide Happened”).
After years of assimilation in
terms of adopting the Hutu language, beliefs and cultures, economic
differences between the groups started to become more prominent. As cattle herders, a majority of the Tutsis became
wealthier than their counterparts, and began representing the highest strata of
Rwandan society. As the Tutsis became more and more politically powerful, the
seeds of resentment had already been planted. Historians like Professor Izangola believe
that the conflict was primarily over economic differences rather than ethnic
differences (“The Heart of the Hutu- Tutsi Conflict”). This is supported by the fact that today both
groups speak the same Bantu tongues (as well as French) and practice
Christianity.
Colonization by the Europeans:
The Colonial era and the process of decolonization were the biggest reasons for conflict between these two groups. Initially, Rwanda was Germany’s colony. However, after the First World War, the territory was handed over to the Belgians. After their arrival in 1916, the Belgians clearly favored the Tutsis over the Hutus. Identity cards were used to classify Rwandans according to their ethnicity and the Tutsis were given better jobs and educational opportunities (“Rwanda: How the Genocide Happened”). This injustice and distinction between ethnic groups exasperated the Hutus and resulted in several violent riots against Tutsis populations in 1959.
After decolonization, democracy and independence in July 1st 1962, the Hutus officially took over Belgium’s administration and the Tutsis rule was over. As the targeted violence continued, many Tutsis fled to Burundi, Uganda, Zaire and Tanzania. With the creation of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in Uganda (who sought “power sharing” and “secure repatriation of Rwandans in exile”(“Rwanda: A Brief History of the Country”)), the cycle of violence escalated to the genocide of 1994.
The Colonial era and the process of decolonization were the biggest reasons for conflict between these two groups. Initially, Rwanda was Germany’s colony. However, after the First World War, the territory was handed over to the Belgians. After their arrival in 1916, the Belgians clearly favored the Tutsis over the Hutus. Identity cards were used to classify Rwandans according to their ethnicity and the Tutsis were given better jobs and educational opportunities (“Rwanda: How the Genocide Happened”). This injustice and distinction between ethnic groups exasperated the Hutus and resulted in several violent riots against Tutsis populations in 1959.
After decolonization, democracy and independence in July 1st 1962, the Hutus officially took over Belgium’s administration and the Tutsis rule was over. As the targeted violence continued, many Tutsis fled to Burundi, Uganda, Zaire and Tanzania. With the creation of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) in Uganda (who sought “power sharing” and “secure repatriation of Rwandans in exile”(“Rwanda: A Brief History of the Country”)), the cycle of violence escalated to the genocide of 1994.