Under colonial rule by various European nations, tensions had long simmered between ethnic Hutus, predominantly farmers, and Tutsis, who raise cattle. Hutus were in the majority while the minority Tutsis generally commanded greater wealth and social position.

In 1990 Rwanda was one of the poorest countries in the world but when a Civil War broke out between the Rwandan Armed Forces, representing the country’s largely Hutu government, and the Tutsi-led rebel Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) was set up in October 1993. The UNAMIR commander was aware of plans to exterminate members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group, but his request to raid the caches of arms was turned down by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

The Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi occurred between 7 April and 15 July 1994. The Hutu government and armed militias killed around 500,000 to 662,000 members of the Tutsi minority ethnic group as well as some moderate Hutu and Twa.

7 April was established in 2003 as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

The RPF is now the ruling party in Rwanda and the President is a Tutsi, Paul Kagame. Since coming to power, he has won three presidential elections, but none of these have been rated free or fair by international observers. His role in the assassination of exiled political opponents has been controversial.

More information

Rwanda: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda

Rwandan Civil War: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Civil_War

Rwandan genocide: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_genocide

Paul Kagame: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kagame