Why did Genocides or Atrocities take place in Rwanda? (Why did it happen? Who was fighting each other and why?)

Answer 1

The genocide in Rwanda took place in 1994 primarily due to long-standing ethnic tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi populations in the country. The Hutu majority held political power and had a history of discrimination against the Tutsi minority.

The genocide was sparked by the assassination of the Hutu President of Rwanda, which was widely believed to have been carried out by Tutsi rebel groups. In response, Hutu extremists launched a campaign of violence and mass killings targeting Tutsis and moderate Hutus who were seen as sympathetic to the Tutsis.

The killings were carried out by militias, government forces, and civilians, and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people in just 100 days. The international community was criticized for failing to intervene to stop the genocide, which has been described as one of the worst atrocities of the 20th century.

Overall, the genocide in Rwanda was a result of deep-rooted ethnic divisions, political power struggles, and a history of discrimination and violence between the Hutu and Tutsi populations.