A People Betrayed: The Role of the West In Rwanda’s Genocide

The Roots of Rwanda’s Divisions

Imagine a land nestled in the heart of Africa, where social status was measured not by gold or land alone, but by the number of cattle one owned. This was Rwanda, a kingdom where the rhythms of life were intertwined with the herding and care of cattle, the pivot around which society revolved. The pre-eminence of man over the cow was far from established, and the aspiration to own even two poor beasts was a universal desire. This cattle economy shaped the feudal social order, where aristocrats and vassals formed a complex hierarchy, and power radiated from the royal court to the provinces.

Yet, beneath this seemingly stable order, the seeds of division were quietly being sown. The labels Hutu and Tutsi, often misunderstood as rigid ethnic groups, were in fact fluid social categories. They were shaped by wealth, occupation, and lineage rather than immutable racial traits. Many individuals moved between these categories over generations, reflecting the complex social fabric of Rwanda. However, this delicate balance was shattered by the arrival of colonial powers.

When the Germans arrived in 1894, followed by the Belgians after World War I, they imposed a new order. The Belgian administration, in particular, institutionalized ethnicity by issuing identity cards that fixed individuals as Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa. This bureaucratic classification, combined with preferential treatment of the Tutsi minority in education and administration, deepened social fissures. The colonial rulers viewed the Tutsi as a superior race, a narrative that justified their domination and exacerbated tensions.

These policies ignored the fluidity and complexity of Rwandan identities, transforming social distinctions into rigid divisions that would have catastrophic consequences decades later. The colonial legacy left a fractured society, where resentment simmered beneath the surface, waiting for the right moment to erupt.

Understanding this history is essential to grasp why Rwanda became a powder keg. It was not ancient hatreds alone but the manipulation and hardening of identities through colonial rule that set the stage for tragedy. As we move forward, we will explore how these divisions evolved in post-independence Rwanda and how they influenced the political landscape that led to the genocide.

Let us now turn to the turbulent years following independence, where new leaders emerged and old wounds deepened, shaping the destiny of Rwanda.