Unit 8: Rwanda

Question 1

Why would Rwanda be considered an LEDC?

Answer 1

• Economy (small GDP, 30% GDP = agriculture, 90% working population farms)
• Agriculture (subsistence level, food production did not keep up w/ population growth)
• Health (high mortality rate, AIDS/HIV epidemic, low access to healthcare)
• Education (low literacy rate, only 8% have tertiary education)

Question 2

3 theories about the Hutu/Tutsi division

Answer 2

• Hutus were the initial inhabitants and Tutsis arrived later and dominated the original population
• Hutus were the initial inhabitants, but the migration was linear (no domination original society) - the distinction would thus have come at a later date and is more of a class distinction
• Combattants were called Tutsi and non-combattants were called Hutus (+ servants were called Hutus which reinforced the idea that Hutus were ‘inferior’)

Either way, same language & culture + significant intermarriage between the two groups + ‘honorary’ Tutsi

Question 3

Colonial Times (in regards to Rwanda)

Answer 3

1890-1959

Question 4

CT: Where was Rwanda’s fate settled initially? What did they decide?

Answer 4

Brussels Conference of 1890 (not Conference of Berlin like many other countries at the time) and they determined that Rwanda would go to Germany

Question 5

CT: Rwanda under German rule

Answer 5

• Introduction of cash taxes (instead of agricultural ones) -> resulted in more cultivation of cash crops
• Germans believed in race & favored Tutsis (taller & more ‘honorable and eloquent’)

Question 6

What changed with WW1?

Answer 6

Germany lost its colonies, Rwanda was given to Belgium

Question 7

Rwanda under Belgium

Answer 7

• Relied on Tutsi to rule (assumed they were superior, bc Germans had put them in charge)
• Introduced Identity Cards
• Reinforced Divisions through education

Question 8

Identity Cards

Answer 8

• Everyone labelled either Tutsi, Hutu or Twa based off of appearances
• Wealthy/successful/’superior’ Hutu labelled as Tutsi (which reinforced the divison between the groups)

Question 9

What happened in April of 1994?

Answer 9

President Habyarimana’s plane was shot down - this triggered the Civil War

Question 10

What is the basis for the claim that Hutu extremists were really the ones to shoot down the plane?

Answer 10

• Perfect excuse to start the bloodshed (could blame Tutsi)
• Army & Militias were prepared (had lists of enemies and were waiting on the signal)
• Newspapers and Radios had created a hostile anti-Tutsi environment
• Within hours there were roadblocks and people were checking ID cards

Question 11

How did the genocide end?

Answer 11

The Rwandan Patriotic Front overcame government forces

Question 12

How were the RPF able to overcome government forces?

Answer 12

• The RPF were more efficient
• Military were more concerned with killing civilians than fighting the RPF

Question 13

What Tactics did the Hutus employ during the genocide?

Answer 13

• Radios
  Shape public opinion &
  promote violence
  Justify Actions
• Rape
  Rape squads who
  were HIV positive
  (Tutsi women targeted
  in order to attack their
  reproductive
  capabilities)
  Abduction of women &
  sexual slaves
• Roadblocks
  Check ID cards and stop Tutsi from escaping

Question 14

How did the Hutus justify their actions?

Answer 14

They would say that Hutus were ‘true Rwandans’ and were just ‘freeing/cleaning/retrieving the calm of’ Rwanda. Or they were just ‘ensuring their own security’ or ‘helping’ the army / militias

Question 15

What was UNAMIR’s original purpose in Rwanda?

Answer 15

They were there to monitor the ceasefire and implementation of the Arusha Accords

Question 16

What was the UN’s initial reaction?

Answer 16

They withdrew troops (reduction to 250 troops)

Question 17

What did the UN do after its initial rection?

Answer 17

Increased its presence (to 5’000 troops) and mandated Operation Turquoise

Question 18

How did the US react?

Answer 18

They avoided the conflict (despite warnings from the CIA and knowledge within the White House that things weren’t quite right)

Question 19

Why did the US not intervene?

Answer 19

Somalia Syndrome (they intervened there and it went badly)

Question 20

How was France involved with Rwanda before the Civil War?

Answer 20

Supported the Hutu government in 1991-1992 & had a strong presence (trained army troops, etc.)

Question 21

How did France intervene?

Answer 21

• Initially withdrew
• Announced they planned to intervene
• Oversaw Operation Turquoise with 2’500 French Foreign Legion troops

Question 22

Why were other nations suspicious of France’s desire to intervene?

Answer 22

• No one else wanted to intervene, why would France?
• Had significant Hutu involvement in the past
• Had trained the Hutu military

Question 23

What was Belgium’s reaction?

Answer 23

• 10 Belgian peacekeepers were killed guarding the Prime Minister
• Withdrew troops
• Did NOT oversee Operation Turquoise (former colonial power there, significant resentment, not a good idea for them to intervene)

Question 24

What was Operation Turquoise?

Answer 24

A UN mandated mission to create ‘safe zones’ in Southern Rwanda. Many perpetrators fled to these safe zones and because this came so late, many Rwandans saw it as an effort to protect the perpetrators

Question 25

Summary of the Short-Term Causes

Answer 25

• Murder of President Habyarimana
• Propaganda & Hate Speech (radio transmissions)
• Failure in International Response
• Armed Conflict

Question 26

Summary of the Long-Term Causes

Answer 26

• Colonial Legacy (furthered ethnic divisions & tension)
• Ethnic Divisions
• Political Instability

Question 27

Give a definition of Genocide

Answer 27

The intentional destruction of a national, ethical, racial, or religious group

Question 28

Why are people suspicious of France’s knowledge pre the genocide?

Answer 28

• France trained the troops, they must have noticed their appetite for genocide
• France evacuated members of the government right before the plane was shot down (including Habyarimana’s wife)
• Withdrew their troops before the attack
• Saw a portion of the atrocities and did not say anything significant to the UN, etc.

Question 29

Why do people assume individual nations knew more than UNAMIR?

Answer 29

The US, Italy, France and Belgium all withdrew personnel before the civil war broke out, but did not share any info with UNAMIR

Question 30

RPF?

Answer 30

Rwandan Patriotic Front (Tutsi)

Question 31

RAF

Answer 31

Rwandan Armed Forces (Hutus)