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The causes for the 1994 Rwandan genocide Maria José Balta (Short term…
The causes for the 1994 Rwandan genocide Maria José Balta
Short term causes
The assassination of President Habyarimana
On the 7th of April 1994, 2 missiles sent from earth hit the Presidents plane while it was flying over Kigali.
The private plane was headed to Kigali from Tanzania. There the President had attended a meeting in which he agreed to carry the Arusha Accords.
This was an example of provocations by Hutu extremists.
Habyarimanas death was a catalyst for the genocide.
The potential loss of power by the governing elite
President Habyarimana, after nearly 20 years in power, was loosing popularity amongst Rwandans.
The government elite blamed the Tutsis for all of the society's problems. The government elite manipulated the masses to preserve their dominance over them.
Once again the ethnic divide was seen as a reality for all of Rwandas population and this was a fundamental cause for the genocide.
Hutu power movement
The Hutu power movement were responsable for the assassination of president Habyarimana
Colonel Bagosora was aware of the flight plan of the presidents aircraft. Bagosora was a military officer who was part of "Le Clan de la Madame" also known as "Azaku". Bagosora viewed the implementation of the Arusha Accords as a threat to the Hutu dominated country as well as his own power.
The fired missiles came from the Kanombe camp. This was home to the French trained elite known as the president's guards. This place was inaccessible to the RPF rebels.
Political radicalization
Hutu policies were radicalized after the start of the civil war in 1990. These policies previously discriminated the Tutsis but now they aimed to completely destroy the Tutsis (annihilation).
The RPF
Instability within the RPF lead to Kagames rise to power
With Kagame as the leader, the guerrilla war began between the Tutsis and the Hutus.
As well, the invasion and then guerrilla war, would not have been possible without the support the RPF received from Uganda
The guerrilla war sharpened ethnic tensions
Weak UN response to increased risk of violence
An informant in 1994 warned the UN that Hutu militias were stockpiling arms and machetes and were training to kill 1,000 Tutsis every 20 minutes.
The council decided not to act hence they did not confiscate the weapons the informant had told them where to find.
France
The Hutu ruling class thought that Habyarimana had the support of France and would not be forced to compromise in the Arusha Accords.
This was not true, the French pressured Habyarimana to come a power sharing agreement with The RPF insurgents.
The Hutus did not realize that Habyarimana agreed to implement the Accords so that Rwanda would not lose overseas commitments with France. They wrongly accused him of being on the side of the RPF and murdered him.
Murder of Rwandas Prime Minister
Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a moderate Hutu, was assassinated the day after the President was murdered.
Her murder was part of a campaign to eliminate moderate Hutu or Tutsi politicians. This would then allow the formation of a Government made up of only Hutu extremists.
Long term causes
Socio-economic factors
In the mid 1980s the possibility for economic resources, such as land, was reduced largely.
Rwanda had a rapid population growth rate of about 3% per year. As the population was growing faster than the economy, the living standards decreased.
Population pressure and socio-economic shortages made social violence a distinct possibility
Even before the coffee problem and the civil war, 85% of the population lived under the poverty line
The fall in the coffee price during the 1980s affected the economy greatly as coffee was Rwanda's main export
Poverty was made worse by the guerrilla war that began in 1991
Colonial past
The Germans and Belgians had exacerbated ethnic divisions between the Tutsis and the Hutus. They had made the Tutsis their junior partners and had provided them with the best education. As well, the Belgians introduced ethnic categories. This made the Hutus resent the Belgians and the Tutsis.
Struggle for power
The constant struggle for power between the Tutsis and Hutus caused the genocide. The Hutus were unwilling to give up their ruling power and the Tutsis were not satisfied with being discriminated upon.