consequences of the Rwandan genocide
click to edit
political impact
economic impact
refugee crisis
social impact
10% of the population is dead (75% Tutsi) - 800.000 deaths
most of the victims were men
status of women has changed in Rwanda
50% more of the households that are headed by women
they become central to the restructuring of society and economic development of the country
2/3 of parliamentarians are women
they have right to:
inherit land
own property
share the assets of marriage
obtain credit
the birth rate is falling
they receive both primary and secondary education as boys do
women comprising the majority of Rwanda's adults working population
2-3million people fled the country in 1994
"the messiest and most complex humanitarian operation in modern history"
Tutsi refugees had sought refuge in Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi
Tutsi refugees had formed the RPF and launches the civil war in Rwanda in 1990
500,000 refugees in Central Africa
refugees were potential recruits for armed groups such as the RPF and the Interahamwe militia, the latter being responsible for some of the worst massacres in the genocide
division of the country into survivors, victims and temporary displaced people
justice
many of the judiciary had been killed in the genocide - fewer than 6 judges and only 10 lawyers survived
creation of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
in 1999 the Rwandan government decided to adapt the traditional Gacaca community justice system to deal with the crimes of the genocide and promote both justice and reconciliation
consisted of people from local community who were to elect judges
defendants were given shorter sentences in exchange for confessing and asking for forgiveness from their victims' families
20 years after genocide Rwanda has become one of the most stable countries in the African continent
the elimination of the Hutu Power Movement and control of the political process was a natural by-product of victory
since 1994 gross domestic product has almost tripled
since 1994 population has increased by 25% (more than 10 million)
the RPF took control of the government to reorganize it
a new government was created called the Broad Based Government of National Unity and headed by Hutu, Pasteur Bizimungu
political process was heavily controlled with the radical Hutu party, the MRND, banned the formation of new political parties prohibited until 2003
the Vice President Paul Kagame retained real political power behind presidency
government abolished any discrimination based on ethnicity, race or religion
schools are reopened - revision of school curricula
in march 2003 Paul Kagame became president
the RPF has dominated the media, the state bureaucracy, the banks, many state-owned companies, the judiciary and the security services
attracts foreign investment
one of the fastest growing in Africa
GDP growth averaged 8.2% from 1995-2001
main sources
export of tea and coffee
foreign aid
tourism
government restored security throughout the country, rebuilt rural and urban infrastructure and controlled price inflation
75% of the population tied to agriculture
providing almost 80% of Rwandan export revenues
45% of the population live in poverty