The Reasoning

The Rwandan Genocide was a product of large amounts of tension between ethnic Tutsi and Hutu. The Hutu had always been oppressed by the Tutsi. During the days of the Kingdom of Rwanda, the Hutu made up the peasants, farmers and poor. The Tutsi, on the other hand, were the leaders, the rich and the merchants. After the scramble for Africa and the Berlin Conference of 1885, Rwanda was ceded to Germany. Germany chose to rule Rwanda indirectly, appointing Tutsi leaders because they had always been the leaders before. This pulled the Hutu and Tutsi apart even farther socially and economically. After World War 1, Rwanda became a Belgian protectorate. They followed the German example of allowing the Tutsi to govern. In 1962, Belgium gave Rwanda the right to self govern. With an overwhelming number of votes, the majority-favored Hutu took power. They worked to empower the Hutu and in the process killed over 20,000 Tutsi. Over 200,000 more fled to neighboring countries like Uganda.

Paul Kagame, leader of the RPF

In 1985 the Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front was formed by Paul Kagame. They saw an opportunity in their home country to gain the right to return. In 1990, RPF forces invaded from their base in Uganda. The RPF blamed the Rwandan government for failing to become Democratic and solve the problems of over 500,000 Tutsi living in refugee camps scattered across the world. The Rwandan government made the invasion out to be an attempt to replace the Tutsi into power and restore the Tutsi feudal state. Hutu rallied with the president and he personally repressed Tutsi and Hutu believed to be in league with the "rebels". In 1993, The Arusha Accords were signed Arusha, Tanzania, on August 4 by the two warring factions. These documents ended the civil war and established a new government. Each faction, along with other governmental parties that had also been in place, formed a temporary government until proper elections could be held. During this time, Hutu nationalism reached the breaking point. Radio stations began broadcasting veiled encouragement to destroy the Tutsi. Radical Hutu groups began stockpiling weapons and gathering and training supporters. April 6, 1994; The plane carrying the Hutu presidents Juvenal Habyarimana, from Rwanda, and Cyprien Ntaryamira, from Uganda was shot down. Analysts argue whether it was Hutu extremists or the RPF. In any case, these events began the Rwandan Genocide.

This picture is one of an

SA-16 missile launcher, the

kind used to shoot down the presidential plane.