10.10 - Rwandan Genocide

decolonization

the act or process of a ruling country withdrawing from a colony, leaving it independent

ethnic conflict

a conflict between two groups with different racial, cultural, or religious identities

Hutu

A tribe that lives in Rwanda. In 1994, the Hutu made up 85% of the population of Rwanda. When Rwanda was a Belgian colony, the Hutus were treated as second-class citizens compared to the Tutsi, but After Rwanda gained independence from the Belgians in 1962, the Hutu took control of the government and discriminated against the Tutsi. An extreme Hutu government started the Rwandan genocide in an attempt to eliminate the Tutsi tribe.

Tutsi

A tribe that lives in Rwanda. In 1994, the Tutsi made up 14% of the population of Rwanda. When Rwanda was a Belgian colony, the Belgians favored the Tutsi over the Hutus by giving them jobs in the government and a higher standing in society, but when Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the Hutu took control of the government and the Tutsi were discriminated against. During the 1994 genocide, the Tutsi were targeted by an extremist Hutu government who tried to eliminate the tribe.

United Nations

an international organization created after World War II to prevent future conflicts and encourage cooperation between countries to protect human rights