In 1994, the Rwandan genocide took place, resulting in the mass murder of an estimated 800,000 people, mostly from the Tutsi ethnic group. The genocide was perpetrated mainly by extremist Hutu militias who sought to exterminate the Tutsi population.The origins of the conflict can be traced back to the colonial period when the Belgians favored the Tutsis, who were perceived as being more European in appearance, and granted them privileges over the Hutu majority. This division along ethnic lines created tensions that boiled over in 1994.The immediate trigger for the genocide was the assassination of Rwandan President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, on April 6, 1994. Hutu extremists quickly blamed the Tutsi-dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) for the attack and used it as an excuse to incite violence against the Tutsi population.Within hours of the assassination, systematic killings began as Hutu militias, armed with machetes, guns, and other weapons, targeted Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The genocide involved widespread acts of violence, including mass killings, rape, and torture.The international community largely failed to respond adequately to the unfolding genocide. Many countries, including the United States, were hesitant to use the term 'genocide' and take swift action to prevent further bloodshed. The lack of intervention allowed the violence to continue for several months before it was brought under control.Eventually, the RPF, led by Paul Kagame, launched an offensive and took control of Rwanda, effectively ending the genocide in July 1994. The aftermath of the genocide was devastating, with thousands of displaced people and a shattered economy. Rwanda, however, has made significant strides in post-genocide reconciliation and economic development in the years since.
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