Genocide

The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda:

In the 1800s, before European colonization, Rwanda was a unified kingdom where the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa were not distinct ethnic or tribal groups but rather social classes. They shared a common language, culture, and traditions, and social mobility between the groups was common. The distinctions were primarily based on economic roles—Tutsi were mainly cattle herders, Hutu were farmers, and Twa were hunters and potters. Rwanda was ruled by a monarchy, and while Tutsi rulers, including the king (Mwami), often held power, leadership was not based on rigid ethnic lines, and there was a sense of social cohesion.

However, the arrival of European colonial powers began to change this dynamic. In the late 19th century, Germany colonized Rwanda and reinforced the leadership of the Tutsi elite. Influenced by racist ideologies of the time, the Germans believed that the Tutsi, who they thought resembled Europeans more closely, were naturally superior and better suited to govern. This belief strengthened the political position of the Tutsi elite, but it did not immediately disrupt the social fabric of Rwandan society.
After World War I, Rwanda was placed under Belgian control through a League of Nations mandate. The Belgians escalated the divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi by formalizing ethnic classifications. In the 1930s, they introduced ethnic identity cards that labeled every Rwandan as either Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa. The Belgians continued to favor the Tutsi minority, granting them privileges in education, leadership, and administrative positions, while marginalizing the Hutu majority. This favoritism sowed deep resentment among the Hutu population, as colonial policies made ethnic distinctions more rigid and entrenched.

By the late 1950s, this growing resentment reached a boiling point. In 1959, after the death of King Mutara III, tensions exploded into violence during the “Hutu Revolution,” a violent uprising against the Tutsi elite. Thousands of Tutsi were killed, and many were driven from their homes as their properties were looted and destroyed. The revolution led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a Hutu-led republic. Over 100,000 Tutsi fled Rwanda, seeking refuge in neighboring countries such as Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. This exodus marked the beginning of decades of exile for many Tutsi, including the formation of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) by exiled Tutsi in Uganda.

The 1959 massacres, the abolition of the monarchy, and the exile of so many Tutsi cemented the ethnic divide that had been artificially created by colonial powers. Successive Hutu-led governments after independence in 1962 institutionalized discrimination against the Tutsi, further marginalizing them socially, politically, and economically.
By the early 1990s, Rwanda had become a deeply divided society. Extremist Hutu leaders, building on decades of anti-Tutsi propaganda and resentment, began planning the total extermination of the Tutsi. 

The 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda
On April 6, 1994, the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu, ignited a well-coordinated and horrific genocide. For the next 100 days, nearly 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were murdered by their own neighbors, armed militias, and government forces. This was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence but a meticulously planned effort by extremist leaders, who used hate propaganda to dehumanize the Tutsi, calling them “cockroaches” and encouraging their extermination.
The killings took place in homes, churches, hospitals, and schools—places that once offered safety. Survivors witnessed unspeakable atrocities, and the international community largely stood by without intervention. The United Nations and other world powers failed to act, leaving Rwandans to endure this tragedy alone.

The Aftermath
The genocide came to an end in July 1994 when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a Tutsi-led rebel group, captured Kigali and ousted the genocidal regime. Rwanda was left in ruins, with mass graves, destroyed infrastructure, and a shattered society. Survivors, many of whom had lost entire families, faced profound trauma. Rebuilding Rwanda from such devastation was a monumental challenge. The new government prioritized justice, national unity, and reconciliation, but the wounds were deep, and healing would take generations.

The Pain and Scars of Survivors
For the survivors of the genocide, the end of the violence did not mean the end of their suffering. Many lost entire families, saw loved ones brutally murdered, and were left to live with the painful memories of the atrocities. Survivors carry both visible and invisible scars—the physical wounds inflicted during the genocide and the deep psychological trauma of having endured unimaginable horrors. The pain of losing children, spouses, and parents is compounded by the reality that many must now live side by side with those who participated in the killings.
More than 250,000 women were victims of systematic rape during the genocide, often as a weapon of war, leaving countless women with severe trauma, unwanted pregnancies, and lifelong health complications, including HIV. The trauma is not limited to those who lived through the genocide; it has passed down through generations. Children of survivors, even those born long after 1994, often bear the weight of their parents’ pain and the psychological toll of the genocide.

Numbers of Loss and Survivors’ Struggle for Reconciliation
The numbers are staggering: nearly 1 million Tutsi were murdered, representing about 70% of the Tutsi population. Additionally, thousands of moderate Hutu who opposed the killings were also slaughtered. The genocide left more than 95,000 children orphaned, and thousands of others were separated from their families or forced to flee.
Reconciliation has been a cornerstone of Rwanda’s recovery, but it has not been easy. The Gacaca courts, a community-based justice system, were established to try lower-level perpetrators, with the goal of fostering reconciliation while delivering justice. While these courts helped provide some closure, they also forced survivors to face their attackers in a process that sometimes reopened old wounds.
The government has encouraged forgiveness, but for many survivors, the burden of reconciliation is heavy. Some have chosen to forgive for the sake of peace and healing, while others continue to struggle with the idea of living in a country where those who caused so much pain walk free. The path to reconciliation is fraught with challenges, and healing is a slow, ongoing process.

The Trauma of Survival and Generational Trauma
The psychological scars of the genocide against the Tutsi run deep and persist even decades later. Many survivors, those who lived through the atrocities of 1994, continue to suffer from severe mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and deep emotional anguish. The horrors they witnessed—the brutal murders of family members, friends, and neighbors—remain etched in their memories, making it difficult to fully return to any semblance of normal life. The genocide left many survivors plagued by flashbacks, nightmares, and a constant sense of loss, which continues to shape their daily existence.

But the pain of the genocide is not limited to those who remained in Rwanda during the 100 days of violence. Extended survivors, those who had fled Rwanda in earlier years during the violence of the 1959 revolution or subsequent attacks on the Tutsi, carry a different yet equally profound burden. These refugees, who had hoped to find safety in neighboring countries such as Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and other countries, faced the agony of being separated from their homeland and their loved ones. While they escaped the physical horrors of the 1994 genocide, many of these extended survivors lost entire families who had stayed behind in Rwanda. They endured the devastating experience of watching from afar as their country descended into unimaginable violence, helpless to protect those they loved.

For the extended survivors, this created a dual trauma—the pain of displacement and the trauma of losing loved ones in the genocide. Many carried survivor’s guilt, feeling the weight of having escaped when so many others perished. Even those who built new lives in exile never fully escaped the shadow of the genocide, as their hearts remained connected to the memories of home and the family members they lost.

Survivors in the USA and the Birth of Ibuka USA
In the years following the genocide against the Tutsi, Rwandans came to the United States through different paths. Some fled the genocide itself, seeking refuge from the violence and devastation, while others had already escaped Rwanda during earlier waves of conflict, such as the violence of 1959 or subsequent attacks on the Tutsi. Others came to the U.S. through regular immigration processes, often as students, professionals, or expatriates seeking new opportunities. Regardless of how they arrived, all were united by a shared trauma—the loss of family, community, and homeland.

For many survivors, resettling in the United States brought both opportunities and immense challenges. The resilience they demonstrated in rebuilding their lives in a foreign country is a testament to their strength, but the journey was often marked by profound loneliness and emotional pain. Thousands of miles from Rwanda, many faced the overwhelming task of starting u over in an unfamiliar culture while carrying the heavy burden of trauma and loss. Survivors were haunted by memories of the genocide, the family members and friends they had lost, and the homes they had left behind.

Loneliness and isolation were common, especially for those who had fled alone. Many survivors struggled with the trauma of their experiences, feeling disconnected from the new world they found themselves in while grappling with the deep emotional scars of the past. Some felt survivor’s guilt, questioning why they had been able to escape when so many others perished. The need to process these complex emotions while trying to integrate into American society weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Out of this shared pain and a strong desire to remember the past, support one another, and educate the world about what had happened, Ibuka USA was born. Meaning “remember” in Kinyarwanda, Ibuka brings together the survivor’s community and partners to honor the memory of those who were lost and support survivors.
Ibuka USA, established by Rwandan genocide survivors living in the United States, plays a critical role in supporting survivor resilience and ensuring that the world does not forget the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. It is a space where survivors can connect, share their stories, and find healing in community. Through commemorations, educational programs, and advocacy efforts, Ibuka USA ensures that the memory of the genocide is preserved, while also promoting healing and justice for survivors.

In the face of immense loss and adversity, survivors in the U.S. continue to demonstrate resilience. They carry with them not only the trauma of the past but also the strength to rebuild, to honor their loved ones, and to remind the world that “never again” must be more than just words. Through the work of Ibuka USA, they ensure that future generations understand the lessons of the genocide and the importance of standing up against hatred and intolerance.

Annual Commemoration Events
Each year, Rwanda and the international community observe Kwibuka (“to remember”), beginning on April 7, to mark the anniversary of the genocide. For 100 days, survivors, their families, and allies come together to remember the victims, honor the survivors, and reflect on the lessons of the past. In the United States, Ibuka USA leads commemorative events, which serve as an important reminder that the world must never allow such an atrocity to happen again.
These events also focus on educating new generations, ensuring that the memories of the victims live on, and promoting justice and reconciliation worldwide.

Key World Leaders on the Genocide Against the Tutsi
In the years since the genocide, world leaders have acknowledged the failure of the international community to prevent the genocide and have committed to ensuring such atrocities never occur again.

Nelson Mandela captured the international community’s regret, saying, “It is a tragedy that the world stood by while the Rwandan people were left to suffer. The lessons of the genocide must remind us all that we have a duty to humanity that transcends borders.”

Pope Francis, during a 2017 visit to Rwanda, asked for forgiveness, stating, “We ask that you forgive us for the sins and failings of the Church and its members, among whom were priests and religious men and women who succumbed to hatred and violence, betraying their own mission of love and compassion.”

President Emmanuel Macron of France admitted France’s historical role, saying in 2021, “France has a role, a history, and a political responsibility in Rwanda. And it has a duty: to look history in the face and recognize the suffering it inflicted on the Rwandan people by siding with a genocidal regime.”

King Charles III of the United Kingdom (then Prince Charles) emphasized the genocide’s impact on the world: “The genocide against the Tutsi remains a deep scar on the collective conscience of humanity. The international community must commit to ensuring that such an atrocity never happens again.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed this, stating, “We failed to prevent the genocide in Rwanda. It is a stain on the global community’s conscience, and we must ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The United Nations Recognition
In 2004, the United Nations officially recognized April 7 as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. In his address on the 20th anniversary, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged the failure to act: “The genocide in Rwanda was an epic failure of the international community. The only way to truly honor the memory of the victims is to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.”

Current UN Secretary-General António Guterres reinforced this in 2020, stating, “The genocide against the Tutsi remains a dark chapter in human history. Our collective duty is to remember the victims and recognize our failures so that we can build a future where genocide is a relic of the past.”