Short History Of...

Rwandan Genocide

February 9, 2026

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  • The Rwandan Genocide's roots lie in European colonialism, which rigidly enforced and exaggerated pre-existing socio-economic distinctions between the Hutu and Tutsi groups, transforming them into fixed ethnic identities. 
  • The 1994 genocide was precipitated by the assassination of President Habyarimana, leading Hutu supremacists to immediately execute a pre-planned campaign targeting Tutsi elites and moderate Hutu politicians, followed by mass killings of the general Tutsi population. 
  • The international community, despite having prior warnings of the planned genocide, largely abandoned Rwanda by withdrawing peacekeeping forces, contributing to the scale of the ensuing 100 days of violence. 

Segments

Post-Genocide Justice System
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(00:48:28)
  • Key Takeaway: Justice for genocide perpetrators involved both the UN’s ICTR and revived local Gachacha courts.
  • Summary: The ICTR tried high-level perpetrators, achieving landmark convictions, including the first for sexual violence as a war crime. Lower-level perpetrators were tried in revived Gachacha courts, which also served as forums for gathering information on victims and grave sites. These local courts handled nearly 1.9 million cases over a decade.
Post-Genocide National Reconciliation
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(00:50:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Kagame’s presidency initiated national reconciliation by changing national symbols and legally abolishing Hutu and Tutsi identities.
  • Summary: Under President Kagame, the flag and national anthem associated with Hutu nationalism were changed, and a new constitution was promulgated in 2003. The country was reorganized into multi-ethnic provinces, and the official line became that all Rwandans belong only to the Banyarwanda ethnic group. However, this stability is maintained through an authoritarian rule criticized for lacking free elections.
International Response Legacy
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(00:51:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Failures during the Rwandan Genocide catalyzed the creation of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine within the UN.
  • Summary: The international community faced heavy criticism for its inadequate response to the genocide, which prompted the creation of the ICTR and the R2P doctrine. R2P asserts that sovereignty entails a responsibility to protect citizens, and if a state fails, the international community has an obligation to intervene. Current global divisions, however, make consensus for such intervention difficult to achieve.
Remembering the Genocide
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(00:53:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Despite the deep wounds, Rwanda actively remembers the genocide annually as a path toward a different future.
  • Summary: The Rwandan Genocide remains one of East Africa’s darkest post-colonial periods, leaving slow-healing wounds three decades later. The country does not shy away from these events, remembering the genocide annually. This act of facing the past is seen as holding hope for a different future.