RwandaRwanda

The Land of a Thousand HillsThe Land of a Thousand Hills

By Brett LaneBy Brett Lane

Rwanda Basic InformationRwanda Basic Information

Rwanda is a very small Rwanda is a very small country in central Africa.country in central Africa.

Rwanda is home to only Rwanda is home to only about 7 million people.about 7 million people.

Most of the population Most of the population of Rwanda is split into of Rwanda is split into three ethnic groups, the three ethnic groups, the majority is the Hutus, majority is the Hutus, then in the middle is the then in the middle is the Tutsis, and about one Tutsis, and about one percent of the percent of the population is the Twa. population is the Twa.

Rwanda: The BeginningRwanda: The Beginning The first Ethnic group The first Ethnic group

to arrive in Rwanda to arrive in Rwanda was the Twa.was the Twa.

Most of them have Most of them have been driven to been driven to neighboring countries neighboring countries which is why they which is why they only make up 1% of only make up 1% of the population.the population.

Rwanda was first Rwanda was first discovered by discovered by Europeans in 1854.Europeans in 1854.

How has the conflict in Rwanda How has the conflict in Rwanda changed throughout history?changed throughout history?

Between two of the ethnic groups in Between two of the ethnic groups in Rwanda (the Hutus and Tutsis) have Rwanda (the Hutus and Tutsis) have always had rage against each other.always had rage against each other.

In 1959 (Three years before Rwanda’s In 1959 (Three years before Rwanda’s independence) the Hutus overthrew the independence) the Hutus overthrew the Tutsi king.Tutsi king.

Over the next several years thousands of Over the next several years thousands of Tutsis were killed and about 150,000 were Tutsis were killed and about 150,000 were driven into neighboring countries.driven into neighboring countries.

How has the conflict in Rwanda How has the conflict in Rwanda changed throughout history? changed throughout history?

(Cont.)(Cont.) Prior to receiving independence every person Prior to receiving independence every person

would carry an identification card that said their would carry an identification card that said their ethnic background, because Belgium's couldn’t ethnic background, because Belgium's couldn’t tell the difference between them.tell the difference between them.

Tutsis were described as tall and thin and the Tutsis were described as tall and thin and the cattle owning elite.cattle owning elite.

Hutus were described as short and square and Hutus were described as short and square and worked on agriculture.worked on agriculture.

The Rwanda GenocideThe Rwanda Genocide

Rwanda received independence from Belgium Rwanda received independence from Belgium on July 1,1962, they still carried the on July 1,1962, they still carried the identification cards but soon these would be identification cards but soon these would be the difference between life and death.the difference between life and death.

Many years later the Hutus and Tutsis Many years later the Hutus and Tutsis decided to share the power of controlling decided to share the power of controlling Rwanda.Rwanda.

In April of 1994 an unknown extremist shot In April of 1994 an unknown extremist shot down the plane of the Rwandan president.down the plane of the Rwandan president.

The Tutsis accused the Hutus for shooting The Tutsis accused the Hutus for shooting down the plane.down the plane.

The Rwanda Genocide 2The Rwanda Genocide 2 The Hutus were offended The Hutus were offended

of this accusation they of this accusation they began murdering any began murdering any Tutsi civilian.Tutsi civilian.

Over the next 100 days Over the next 100 days about 800,000 Tutsis about 800,000 Tutsis were killed.were killed.

During these 100 days During these 100 days radio broadcasts told the radio broadcasts told the Hutus to find and Hutus to find and eliminate all Tutsis.eliminate all Tutsis.

During the genocide During the genocide most of the world was most of the world was completely oblivious.completely oblivious.

Rwanda TodayRwanda Today Today Rwanda’s Today Rwanda’s

power is equally power is equally shared among the shared among the Hutus and the Tutsis.Hutus and the Tutsis.

They have settled They have settled most of their most of their differences through differences through peace talks from peace talks from people around the people around the world. There is still fire world. There is still fire between these two between these two groups but it’s getting groups but it’s getting hosed down.hosed down.

What I Already Knew About This What I Already Knew About This TopicTopic

I already knew that Rwanda had two I already knew that Rwanda had two groups living there that did not get groups living there that did not get along.along.

I also knew that suddenly one group I also knew that suddenly one group began murdering a lot of the other began murdering a lot of the other group.group.

Lastly, I knew that an extremist Lastly, I knew that an extremist caused this genocide.caused this genocide.

Why I Chose This TopicWhy I Chose This Topic

When I first learned a little about Rwanda When I first learned a little about Rwanda a switch flicked and I knew it was a good a switch flicked and I knew it was a good topic for me.topic for me.

Although at sometimes it was hard to find Although at sometimes it was hard to find information and a lot of the websites said information and a lot of the websites said the same things I still got enough the same things I still got enough information.information.

When I heard about Rwanda it sounded When I heard about Rwanda it sounded interesting to me so I decided to chose this interesting to me so I decided to chose this topic.topic.

Work cited picturesWork cited pictures http://www.iss.co.za/af/profiles/Burundi/rwhttp://www.iss.co.za/af/profiles/Burundi/rw

anda_rel96.jpganda_rel96.jpg http://www.trumanwebdesign.com/~catalihttp://www.trumanwebdesign.com/~catali

na/tutsiID.jpgna/tutsiID.jpg http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-medhttp://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-med

ia/08/85208-004-D63E0FC6.jpgia/08/85208-004-D63E0FC6.jpg http://spung.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/http://spung.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/

rwanda-flag3.gifrwanda-flag3.gif http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/

photo-s/00/19/52/99/rwanda-view2.jpgphoto-s/00/19/52/99/rwanda-view2.jpg

Work Cited Websites and BooksWork Cited Websites and Books

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/thhttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/rs.htmle-world-factbook/geos/rs.html

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107926.html A0107926.html

http://www.historyworld.netwrldhis/http://www.historyworld.netwrldhis/plaintesthisories.asp?plaintesthisories.asp?historyid+ad24#pagetophistoryid+ad24#pagetop

http://www.historyplace.com/http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/rwand.htm worldhistory/genocide/rwand.htm

WORLD EXPLORER People, places, and WORLD EXPLORER People, places, and cultures by James B. Krachtcultures by James B. Kracht