Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that people who had lived peacefully beside you were now being told to kill you because of your ethnic group. For many people in Rwanda, this became reality in 1994.

The Rwanda Genocide was one of the darkest events in African history. In roughly 100 days, from April to July 1994, more than 800,000 people were killed. Most of the victims were Tutsis, but Hutus who opposed the killings were targeted too.

So, how did this happen?

The Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda honours the victims of the 1994 genocide.

Credit: Explore Rwanda Tours.

Who Were the Hutu and Tutsi?

The Hutu and Tutsi were Rwanda’s two largest ethnic groups. They spoke the same language, lived in the same communities and shared many cultural traditions. Still, differences in social status and political power became more important over time.

During colonial rule, Belgian authorities favoured Tutsis for some government and education opportunities and they also introduced identity cards that showed people’s ethnic groups. These policies contributed more to the divisions between the Hutus and Tutsis.

When Rwanda became independent in 1962, a Hutu-led government took over. Tutsis faced discrimination and many were killed or forced to leave the country during later periods of violence, which led to years of tension and political conflict.

What Started the Genocide?

In 1990, a rebel group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) entered Rwanda from Uganda. The group was made up largely of Tutsi exiles and their descendants and its arrival led to a civil war between the RPF and the Rwandan government.

Some political leaders used the war to spread fear and hatred against Tutsis, including people who had nothing to do with the fighting.

Then, on 6 April 1994, a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down near Kigali, the capital, which led to his death.

It remains disputed who was responsible for shooting down the plane, but the crash became the trigger for a wave of organised killings.

Extremist leaders and armed groups began murdering Tutsis and Hutus who opposed them. The violence immediately became a thing across the country.

How Did the Killings Happen?

The 1994 genocide forced many Rwandans to flee their homes in search of safety.

Credit: Study.com

The killings were beyond just random violence, because soldiers, militia members and some local authorities helped organise and carry them out.

Roadblocks were set up, and people were sometimes forced to show their identity cards. Tutsis were hunted in their homes, on the streets, and in places where they had gone for safety, including churches and schools.

Families were torn apart, children lost their parents, and many women experienced sexual violence.

However, not every Hutu supported the genocide. Some risked their lives to hide Tutsis, protect them and help them escape.

Where Was the International Community?

The international community means countries and organisations outside Rwanda, such as the United Nations, the United States, Belgium and France.

Before the genocide began, the United Nations had peacekeepers in Rwanda to help maintain peace, but when the killings started, the UN reduced the number of peacekeepers, leaving fewer soldiers to protect civilians.

Countries such as the United States were reluctant to send troops, while Belgium withdrew its soldiers after ten Belgian peacekeepers were killed. France later sent troops on a humanitarian mission, although its earlier relationship with Rwanda's government remains controversial.

International leaders received warnings and reports about the killings, but they were too slow and too cautious to respond effectively.

Because of this, the killings continued for about 100 days, leaving more than 800,000 people dead.

How Did the Genocide End?

Rwanda continues to remember the victims of the genocide through annual commemorations and memorials.

Credit: The New Times.

The genocide ended in July 1994, when the Rwandan Patriotic Front defeated the forces behind the killings and took control of the country.

By then, more than 800,000 people had been killed, and millions had been displaced or forced to flee.

Rwanda was left with destroyed communities, grieving families and a country that needed to rebuild almost every part of national life.

After the genocide, courts were established to prosecute those responsible. The United Nations also created an international tribunal to try people accused of organising and carrying out the crimes.

Rwanda still faces difficult questions about political freedom, human rights and how its history should be remembered, while the genocide remains a major part of the country’s national story.

2026 Bernice Temitayo Olusaiye | Talkafricang.com