The genocide in Rwanda – an example of nationalism and extremism

Abstract

The Rwandan genocide, which unfolded over 100 days in 1994, resulted in the deaths of 800,000 to 1 million people, primarily Tutsis, along with Hutus who opposed the massacres. The genocide stemmed from long-standing colonial policies that divided Rwandan society, as German and Belgian colonizers favored Tutsis over Hutus, deepening ethnic divisions. This animosity was further fueled by media propaganda, notably the magazine Kangura and the radio station RTLM, which dehumanized Tutsis and incited violence against them. Western nations and the United Nations failed to intervene effectively, enabling the genocide to continue unchecked until the Rwandan Patriotic Front, led by Paul Kagame, militarily ended the slaughter. In the aftermath, Rwanda established international and local tribunals to prosecute the atrocities, but many of the verdicts were symbolic, and tensions between Tutsis and Hutus remain unresolved.