20/03/2020
Rwandan Genocide at a Glance
The Rwandan Genocide was a Civil War that took place between the months of April and July 1994. The War is majorly reported as the genocide against the minority Tutsi orchestrated and executed by the majority Hutus. It is significant to note that, in under 100 days, more than one million Rwandese had lost their lives in what is commonly referred to as the African Holocaust.
The shooting down of Hutu President Juvenal Habyarimmana and his Burundian counterpart’s plane as it approached Kigali International Airport, from a Heads of State Summit in Dar Es Salaam, sparked a wave of killings across the tiny Central African nation that ultimately culminated into the Rwandan genocide.
But who do you think was responsible for shooting down the President’s Plane?
A section of conspiracy theorists argue that the plane was shot down by Hutu led Rwandese military then with orders from powerful Hutu extremists. Prior to 1994, Tutsi dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front (Leading Political Party today) led by Fred Rwigyema invaded the country via Virunga Mountains right at the border with Uganda and the DRC 1990. Though they fell short of their quest to take over the nation, it is argued that it was a wake call to the Hutu leading government. In preparation for the worst, Hutu extremists together with the government formed paramilitary/ militia groups popularly referred to as the Interhamwe. The Interhamwe were believed to be trained in warfare in preparation for the impending War which they ultimately executed. It is largely argued that the shooting down of the President’s plane was on orders by Hutu extremists who needed a reason to attack and ‘send the minority Tutsi’s back to their perceived original homeland Abyssinia’ thereby weakening the position of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) insurgents.
On the contrary, a faction of conspiracy theorists argue that the President’s plane was shot down by Tutsi dominated Rwandan Patriotic Front insurgents. The aforementioned argument lies largely on the final outcome of the Civil War. They argue that it is quite ironical for the Tutsi minority to be largely referred to as outright victims of the genocide yet the Rwandan Patriotic Front invaded and took over in a record 100 days. Many question the level of high preparedness the RPF had to invade and seize Kigali in such a short period of time immediately the President’s plane was shot down.
Whereas either theory might/ might not be the case, Rwanda today is PERCEIVED to be a nation redefining the true meaning of African Renaissance. A nation believed to be ‘non-profitable’ to the West in 1994 thereby having the United Nations slap a policy of non-intervention on their case has risen above all odds. Today, despite Rwandese people living in unity and cohesion, it is very much important for the rest of the World to learn about their story. The genocide is in itself was and is still a lesson to the rest of Africa that indeed ethnic and tribal animosity is a sure sign of doom.
Photo credits; Google Images
