How did Belgium start the Rwandan genocide?
An incident in 1959 involving members of the Tutsi army attacking a Hutu political leader caused riots leading to fights between the two tribes. The Hutus however were more than the Tutsis and because of fear of further coups, the Belgians transferred power from the Tutsis to the Hutus.
What role did the Belgians play in creating tension between the Hutu and Tutsi groups?
Belgian rule reinforced an ethnic divide between the Tutsi and Hutu, and they supported Tutsis political power. The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status, and exploited their power over the Hutu majority.
Who was Rwanda’s colonial power?
In 1899 Rwanda was colonised by the German Empire as it was officially incorporated into German East Africa and ruled indirectly through King Musinga’s puppet government[iv]. Rwanda was only a German colony for a short period of time, however.
Why did the Belgians choose the Tutsis as the master race of Rwanda?
The Belgians gave the majority of political control to the Tutsis. Tutsis began to believe the myth of their superior racial status, and exploited their power over the Hutu majority. In the 1920s, Belgian ethnologists analysed (measured skulls, etc.)
Was Rwanda a Belgian colony?
Rwanda was only a German colony for a short period of time, however. With the German empire’s loss in World War I Rwanda was transferred to become part of the Belgian colonial empire as part of mandate from the League of Nations (later United Nations).
How long did Belgium colonize Rwanda?
History of Rwanda
| Kingdom | ?–1962 |
|---|---|
| Belgian mandate (Ruanda-Urundi) | 1922–1962 |
| Revolution | 1959–1962 |
| Republic of Rwanda | 1962–present |
| 1973 coup d’état |
When did Belgium colonize Rwanda?
At the end of WWI, Belgium accepted the League of Nations Mandate of 1916 to govern Rwanda as one of the two kingdoms making up the territory Ruanda-Urundi, along with its existing Congo colony to the west.
What are the two main ethnic groups in Rwanda?
As in Burundi, the major ethnic groups in Rwanda are Hutu and Tutsi, respectively accounting for more than four-fifths and about one-seventh of the total population.