The 1994 genocide was a deliberate, intentional and systematic mass killing of the Tutsi population in Rwanda.
Historically, the country’s population was structured through social clans (ubwooko). During colonial times, the importance of so-called ‘ethnic’ identity was exaggerated, cementing the population into three groups. After years of tension and conflict, the increasing economic, social and political problems Rwanda faced in the 1990’s, caused Hutu radicals to blame the Tutsi minority for all the country’s problems.
On 6 April 1994, extremist government-led militias executed a long-planned campaign to murder all Tutsi – and anyone who opposed their genocidal plan. At least 800 000 people were killed in less than three months. Despite the passing of the Genocide Convention, and the commitment of the world to uphold ‘Never Again’, genocide happened yet again.