Rwanda: A Melting Pot of Issues The Rwandan genocide was an atrocity that marked an age of unrest and violence in Central Africa. A nation unbalanced for years had finally imploded, leading to the mass murder of hundreds of thousands of Tutsis. This genocide was the result of multiple things, creating instability and unbalancing the relationship between the Tutsis and the Hutus. Tensions built up for decades were finally released.
While many would blame Belgium, Germany, and colonization for catalyzing the genocide, there were many other factors involved, including structural oppression, the rise of the Rwandan Patriot Front, and most notably propaganda spread by the Rwandan Radio; proving that while colonialism may have played a large role in starting the genocide, it was not the only factor leading to it.
To prove this, I will first address the role colonialism played in polarizing class structures, followed by analyzing the role the Rwandan Patriot Front played in destabilizing the region, finally moving to address the effect of propaganda spread by thy Rwandan Radio. The Belgium and German occupation of Rwanda led to the polarization of the Hutus and Tutsis, causing a class struggle that further destabilized the region. When Belgium colonized Rwanda in 1916, many Tutsi forces supported them as they had during World War One.
The Belgium colonizers backed the Tutsis, providing them with the funding and education necessary for them to lead a monarchy. While the Belgium forces originally pledged to end the seemingly oppressive class structures, these attempts such as the Ten Year Development Plan went without enforcement, continuing to deny Hutus the proper education and socioeconomic conditions they felt they deserved.
The Belgians reinforces Tutsi rule even more than the Germans, and, as stated in Country Torn Apart, “they fused the land, cattle chief nd army into one position, thereby creating a more efficient and tightly organized bureaucracy. ” (Pg. 38) This is significant because it caused a polarization between the Hutus and Tutsis, separating them into classes. Before colonization, these class structures still existed, however, they were not as prevalent. During Germany’s colonization, the Germans went so far as to destroy Hutu crops, and as stated in Country Torn Apart, “German soldiers burned Hutu homes, destroyed crops, and killed Hutu leaders. ” (Pg. 36).
This quote shows the way that colonialism took little care for those the colonizers had little interest in, causing the destruction of their homes. This piece of evidence is significant because it illustrates the factors that made the Hutus angry, adding up to create a hatred for their oppressor. Through the Hutus eyes however the oppressor was no the Belgians or Germans; instead, the Hutus saw the Tutsis as their enemy. Both colonial powers used the Tutsis as masks for their imperial destruction of the Hutus, causing the blame to be put on the Tutsis.
This played an important role in destroying Hutu and Tutsi relations, ultimately spilling over and creating structural instability between the two classes. This is a contributing factor to the genocide because had imperial power not colonized Rwanda, it is likely the feudal system in place before would have balanced the groups. The polarization of the Hutus and Tutsis allowed for the Hutus to scapegoat many years later, justifying the mass killings of Tutsis with the idea that they had been oppressed for many years.
Resistance to Hutu rule by the Rwandan Patriot Front, a group of Tutsi militia fighting to gain control of Rwanda, caused regional tensions, ultimately escalating to genocide. When Hutu fears that the Rwandan Patriot Front was gaining increased power grew, extremist Hutus formed a group called the Interhamwe to resist the RPF. While Hutu president Habyarimana grew desperate to gain support of Hutus following a series of failed promises, he saw an opportunity in the Interhamwe to balance forces and resist the RPF. In 1992, RPF forces mobilized, revolting against the Hutus.
Habyarimana took action, trying to silence the RPF, and, as described in Country Torn Apart, “unleashed a campaign of violence against Tutsi civilians. ” (Pg. 57). This is significant because it shows the steps that the Interhamwe took to silence political opposition. These campaigns of violence escalated to a higher level of organized killings, and, as described in Country Torn Apart, “about 8000 Tutsis were jailed, tortured, raped, and beaten” (Pg. 57). This evidence is significant because it shows the escalation of conflict between the Interhamwe and the RPF, ultimately leading to the genocide of the Tutsis by the Interhamwe.
While this escalation was momentarily paused by the cease-fire declared by Habyarimana, the mysterious plane crash that led to Habvarimana’s death jump-started tension again, and, as described in Country Torn Apart, “The death of the president immediately sent shock waves across Rwanda. Hutu extremists seized the moment. A flurry of violence ensured. ” (Pg. 61). This piece of evidence is significant because it shows the way in which the death of the president acted as a justification for the beginning of the genocide, allowing the Hutus to scapegoat on the RPF and Tutsi civilians.
It shows the way in which the lull in violence caused by the cease-fire was quickly ended, causing the Interhamwe and Hutu forces to counterbalance against those they assumed had shot down the plane. If the RPF and Tutsi militant forces had never been formed, it is unlikely that this level of paranoia between the Hutus and Tutsis would have occurred, and as a result, the Hutus would have no reason to purge their political opponents. The Rwandan Radio, a radio station set up by and driven by Hutu extremists, was a median for anti-Tutsi propaganda and hate speech.
These propaganda methods encouraged violence between the Hutus and the Tutsis, driving Hutus to kill and commit violent acts against the ‘worthless rats’ of society. Because Rwanda had such a high rate of illiteracy, Radio Rwanda served as the perfect propaganda tool, and, according to Country Torn Apart, “In 1994 Hutu extremists used both stations to create a climate of hysteria, warning people about the RPF and urging them to pick up weapons and fight. ” (Pg. 63). This quotation shows that these radio stations were useful tools for creating a climate of fear, driving Hutu civilians to commit acts they would previously deem unspeakable.
Propaganda and radio was significant and contributed to the start of the genocide because they acted as tools to rally the Hutus, allowing them to be more efficient when organization mass killings, and ultimately removing the distinction between civilian and soldier. While many may deem colonization the sole cause for the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, this theory is grounded in flawed thought. While colonization may have attributed to a significant portion of Hutu and Tutsi polarization, it is clear that eventually, tensions would grow to a level in which one of the groups would rebel.
And, while the rise of the RPE may have been due to Hutu expulsion of Tutsi’s as a result of colonization, it is clear Habyarimana was not a leader capable of holding a country together. While without imperial powers stability may have remained for longer, a collapse in order between the Hutus and the Tutsis was inevitable, especially during the times of economic collapse that occurred as a result of coffee price drops. While colonialism may have been a big cause, it is foolish to assume it was the only cause of the genocide.
In conclusion, it is clear that there are many contributing factors that acted as a catalyst to the Rwandan genocide. During a time where political instability was the only type of political structure, it is apparent that the rise of anti-political groups, propaganda meant to influence civilians towards taking a side, and colonial oppression causing a polarizing between the Hutus and Tutsis, all played a large role in the start of the genocide. Despite this, it is apparent that there was not one cause, but instead a melting pot of different issues that spilled over into greater conflict