The Rwandan Genocide (apr 6, 1994 – jul 19, 1994)

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The Rwandan Genocide was a mass killing that occurred from April 7, 1994, to July 19, 1994, lasting approximately 100 days. It took place in Rwanda, an East African country, where the Hutu extremists, who controlled the government, murdered around 800,000 people, primarily ethnic Tutsis and Hutus who opposed the genocide.

To provide some background, Rwanda's population mainly consists of two ethnic groups: the Hutu and the Tutsi. During Belgian colonial rule, the Tutsi were favored for leadership positions, which created resentment among the Hutu. After gaining independence in 1962, the government, dominated by Hutus, implemented violent policies against the Tutsi population.

On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana and other Hutu officials was shot down, killing everyone on board. Hutu leaders blamed the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), composed primarily of Tutsi rebels, for the attack. This accusation intensified the existing animosities between the two ethnic groups and catalyzed the onset of the genocide.

Following Habyarimana's assassination, the government began systematically killing Tutsis and Hutus who opposed the genocide. Victims were murdered in their homes, schools, and churches, often using machetes and other weapons. During the genocide, it is estimated that between 250,000 and 500,000 women were raped, leaving many with severe psychological and physical scars, including infections.

Hutu extremists fueled the violence through propaganda disseminated via radio stations, inciting further attacks against the Tutsi population. The genocide ended in July 1994 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by Paul Kagame, overthrew the Hutu-led government and took control of the country. In the aftermath, millions of Hutus fled to neighboring countries, including what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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