1. Introduction to Rwanda
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Knowledge:
- Get an overview of the key events and issues raised by the genocide in Rwanda
- Understand key terminology and people |
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2. Causes: Imperialism and the scramble for Africa
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Knowledge:
- Understand what is meant by the 'Scramble for Africa' - Briefly explain how Rwanda became a colony - Impact of Leopold |
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One of the major long term causes of the genocide was the legacy of Rwanda's colonial experience. Before we explore that in detail, it is worth setting the context - how did colonisation occur and what attitudes (on the part of the colonisers) allowed it to happen? You will see that this last point will have an impact on the relationship between the Hutus and the Tutsis.
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Skills:
- Select information from a visual source - Use maps and data to draw conclusions - Use skills of source inference and comparison |
Additional Resources:
3. Was the genocide in Rwanda inevitable? Long term - The Experience of Colonisation
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Knowledge:
- Understand the impact of colonial measures - Build up a chronology of events |
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Some commentators identify the European colonial powers as being responsible for the genocide in 1994. Can such an interpretation be sustained given the fact that the independence was achieved over 30 years previously?
In what ways may this be a convenient belief for modern day Rwandans?
1. Starter Presentation: Images of colonial Rwanda
2. Make a copy of this frame and use in conjunction with pages 26-30 in your textbook. (Having reviewed the timeline as a class you will be allocated a short reading along these lines: 'German Rule' section 26 - 28, Belgian Rule and Seeds of Conflict 28 to end of paragraph 4 on 29, rest of section (NOT final section on independence on page 31 +)
In what ways may this be a convenient belief for modern day Rwandans?
1. Starter Presentation: Images of colonial Rwanda
2. Make a copy of this frame and use in conjunction with pages 26-30 in your textbook. (Having reviewed the timeline as a class you will be allocated a short reading along these lines: 'German Rule' section 26 - 28, Belgian Rule and Seeds of Conflict 28 to end of paragraph 4 on 29, rest of section (NOT final section on independence on page 31 +)
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3. Visible Thinking: There is an argument compass on the board. Think for a few minutes and then place yourself somewhere on the board - you must be able to defend yourself with specifically chosen evidence:
THE MOST IMPORTANT IMPACT OF THE COLONIAL ERA WAS/WERE: |
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4. Medium term causes - Independence and the republics
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Knowledge:
- Understand how Hutu power developed - Consider the Impact of the process of decolonisation |
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5. Medium term - RPF invasions and the Rise of Hutu Power
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Knowledge:
- Understand what the RPF movement was - Explain how the Hutu power movement was impacted |
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6. Was the genocide in Rwanda inevitable? Medium term - The failure of international politics
As the period 1990-94 progressed, there were significant political developments that occurred as part of the growth of Hutu Power and the increasing competence of the RPF under Kagame.
These political developments created the final conditions necessary for the genocide to begin in earnest, while also being more and more dependent on the involvement of the international community.
This brings us to two key questions:
1) Why did the international community fail to stop the Genocide?
2) Why did the government of Habayarimana and the RPF fail to follow through on a real political solution?
Download NOTE TAKING FRAME HERE
A. WATCH THE TWO TRAILERS BELOW - complete Part A of the Note Taking Frame and discuss as a class
These political developments created the final conditions necessary for the genocide to begin in earnest, while also being more and more dependent on the involvement of the international community.
This brings us to two key questions:
1) Why did the international community fail to stop the Genocide?
2) Why did the government of Habayarimana and the RPF fail to follow through on a real political solution?
Download NOTE TAKING FRAME HERE
A. WATCH THE TWO TRAILERS BELOW - complete Part A of the Note Taking Frame and discuss as a class
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B. WORK THROUGH THE STORY MAP - THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE KEY EVENTS
GO FULL SCREEN C. BECOME AN EXPERT ON... Reasons why the Arusha Peace Accords Failed - primary sources and interviews. The Genocide Cable Boutros Boutros-Ghali The shadow of Somalia, Bill Clinton ... AND SHARE! |
7. Was the genocide in Rwanda inevitable? The Spark: the assassination of Habyarimana
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Knowledge:
- Understand what happened to the president - Explain how this was the spark that began the genocide |
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As we have seen, the Arusha Accords and UN involvement was starting to unravel and it seemed likely that full scale civil war would erupt again. In an attempt to avert this, Habyarimana travelled by plane to meet regional leaders in Tanzania - at the meeting, he agreed to fully implement the Arusha Accords as per the original agreement.
He flew back to Kigali with the president of Burundi - as the plane approached the runway it was blown out of the sky by surface to air missiles. This would prove to be the spark that would unleash a long planned genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda. It is worth at this point discussing the nature of Hutu Power and Network Zero at this point - who were they? what did they control? who had the power to stop them? what did they need to happen to fulfil the last steps of their plans? |
Skills:
- Weigh up factors using critical thinking - Analyse arguments 
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1. Who was to blame for the assassination? 1. Complete Part A of "Task Sheet'. 2. Watch the video opposite. It is a 2012 BBC interview with Kagame (now President of Rwanda). On youtube, it has been posted by someone who claims that he 'admits' to ordering the assassination. Complete B of 'Task Sheet' and see if you agree. 3. Open Source Investigation 1 above and complete it in Part C of the task sheet. |
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4. Here is a video made by the Mutsinzi Commission, a 2007 panel of experts charged with investigating the incident by the Rwandan government (Kagame was then, as is today, the President). The video is a summary of their conclusions. |
2. Did the assassination cause the genocide?
The answer is, of course, "YES.... but not really". Discuss.
In class or for homework review pages 64-66 which attempt to pull together the key thematic answers to this question.
One idea is to work in groups of three (taking one theme each), collaborating on a diagram that:
i) Summarises each area (Socio-economic factors, loss of political power, colonial past)
ii) Adds extra detail to them by reviewing your learning so far
iii) Demonstrates how they are all connected/linked together
The answer is, of course, "YES.... but not really". Discuss.
In class or for homework review pages 64-66 which attempt to pull together the key thematic answers to this question.
One idea is to work in groups of three (taking one theme each), collaborating on a diagram that:
i) Summarises each area (Socio-economic factors, loss of political power, colonial past)
ii) Adds extra detail to them by reviewing your learning so far
iii) Demonstrates how they are all connected/linked together
Course
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26875506
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-26875506