The blue stripe represents happiness and peace. The yellow symbolizes the country's mineral wealth and economic development and green symbolizes the country's natural resources and prosperity. The sun stands for unity, transparency and enlightenment from ignorance.

Rwanda

From 1884- 1918

(Treaty of Versailles)

Under Belgian

RuleRUANDA-URUNDI

Rwanda

Burundi

History• 1926: Belgians introduce a system of ethnic ID Cards for Hutu’s and Tutsi’s

• Minority Tutsi (14%) were given power and privileges over Hutus (85%) because of a perceived “European appearance”

• 1962: Independence– Rwanda and Burundi become separate countries– Hutu’s win government election/ Hutu revolution

• 1960’s-1970’s: Intermittent massacres of Tutsi’s• 1973: Hutu General Juvenal Habyarimana seizes power.• 1986: Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) formed in Uganda• 1990: RPF invade Rwanda. CIVIL WAR• 1991: Hutu civilian militia called the Interhamwe (those who stand

together) formed to fight Tutsis.• 8/1993: Habyarimana and RPF sign peace deal in Arusha• 4/6/1994: President Habyarimana’s plane shot down on way home

– RPF?– Interhamwe?

• “Cut down the tall trees”– Radio Mille Collines

Rwanda Genocide: April 6th- July 18th, 1994

100 Days/800,000 Victims

"

• "Ten years on, politicians from around the world have made the pilgrimage to Rwanda to ask for forgiveness from the survivors, and once more the same politicians promise `never again’. But it's happening yet again in Sudan, or the Congo, or some Godforsaken place where life is worth less than dirt. Places where men and women like Paul and Tatiana shame us all by their decency and bravery.“

• Hotel Rwanda director Terry George

VOCAB WORDS• Hutu:Hutu:

• Tutsi:Tutsi:

• Interhamwe:Interhamwe:

• Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF):Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF):

• Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM):Radio Television Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM):

• President Habyarimana:President Habyarimana:

• Paul RusesabaginaPaul Rusesabagina::

• Arusha Peace Accords:Arusha Peace Accords:

• International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda:International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda: