Background Info
What were the three main groups in Rwanda before colonization?
Hutu, Tutsi, and the Twa
Which country colonized Rwanda first in the late 1800s?
Germany
What event on April 6, 1994 triggered the genocide?
The shooting down of President Juvénal Habyarimana’s plane.
Classification: What were the three ethnic categories used in Rwanda?
Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa.
Why couldn’t UN peacekeepers stop the genocide?
They were not given enough power or support to stop the killings.
What important fact shows that Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa were not “ancient enemies”?
They shared the same language and lived in the same region for centuries.
Which group did Belgium favor in education and administration?
The Tutsi minority.
What was the name of the radio station that called Tutsi “cockroaches”?
Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM).
Symbolization: What tool did Belgium use to make ethnic identity permanent?
Identity cards labeling ethnicity.
About how many Hutu fled Rwanda after the genocide?
More than 2 million.
Which colonial power introduced identity cards that hardened ethnic divisions?
Belguim
What major event in 1959 caused many Tutsi to flee Rwanda?
The Hutu Revolution (violence and killings in 1959).
Name one economic factor that made people more vulnerable to extremist messages.
Poverty (or land pressure / economic crisis).
Organization: Name the militia group trained and armed to carry out violence.
Interahamwe.
What was the purpose of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda?
To prosecute major organizers of the genocide.
How should you describe ethnic relations before colonization?
Complex, ethnic identities were more fluid before colonization.
In what year did Tutsi exiles form the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF)?
1987
Why is dehumanizing language considered a key step toward genocide?
Because it makes killing seem acceptable by portraying victims as subhuman or enemies.
Preparation: What were “kill lists” and roadblocks used for?
To identify, trap, and target Tutsi and moderate Hutu for killing.
Who was the first person convicted of genocide by the ICTR?
Jean‑Paul Akayesu (convicted in 1998).
Why is it incorrect to say the genocide was caused only by “ancient tribal hatred”?
Because colonial rule and modern politics intensified and racialized social differences.
How did the 1990 civil war contribute to rising extremism and fear?
The RPF invasion increased fear, nationalism, and anti‑Tutsi extremism.
Give two examples from our presentation that show the genocide was planned in advance.
Kill lists were created, weapons were stockpiled, and roadblocks were planned.
Denial: What are two ways perpetrators denied the genocide afterward?
Blamed the RPF, minimized killings, hid bodies, and tried to erase evidence.
What major lesson about international responsibility does the Rwandan genocide teach?
That international silence and inaction can allow mass violence to continue. Early recognition and intervention are crucial in stopping a genocide.