The Hutu-led government in Rwanda targeted the Tutsi population during the civil war for several reasons, rooted in a complex mix of historical grievances, ethnic tensions, and political power struggles. Here are some key explanations for this tragic conflict:
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Historical Tensions: The Hutu and Tutsi groups had a longstanding history of conflict. Under Belgian colonial rule, the Tutsi minority was favored, leading to resentment among the Hutu majority. After independence, there were power shifts that exacerbated these tensions.
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Political Power and Control: The civil war, which began in 1990, was primarily a struggle for political power. The Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) sought to overthrow the Hutu government. The Hutu leaders viewed the extermination of the Tutsi as a means to eliminate their political opposition and maintain control.
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Genocidal Ideology: The Hutu government propagated an ideology that portrayed the Tutsi as an enemy and a threat to the Hutu population. This dehumanization made it easier to justify violence against the Tutsis.
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Fear and Paranoia: The leaders of the Hutu government feared retribution from the Tutsi population if they lost power. This fear fueled a preemptive strike mentality, which culminated in the genocide.
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Mobilization of Militias: The government encouraged the formation of extremist Hutu militia groups, such as the Interahamwe, which were instrumental in carrying out the massacres and fostering an environment of hate and violence.
These factors combined to create a tragic environment where mass violence against the Tutsi population was seen as a means of ensuring Hutu dominance and security. The result was one of the most horrific genocides in modern history, resulting in the deaths of approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over a span of just a few months in 1994.