Reply #16: It Can Be A Little Confusing... [View All]

[The Great Escape]

the Tutsi's were apparently later arriving in the region than the Hutus. The Tutsi's tended to be more commercially oriented than the Hutus. When the Germans colonized the region they elevated the minority Tutsis above the Hutus. The Belgians continued this after they took over the colony following WWI. I think the Europeans considered the Tutsis more regal than the Hutus. I think this is the beginning of much of the animosity. The Hutus had ruled the country since the Belgians left. The sectarian violence has been almost continuous. Of course the level of violence did not compare to the bloodbath in '94. The Tutsi dominated RPF launched attacks on the country from Angola and eventually the RPF not the West ended the genocide. Shamefully, on France's part, their seems to be a great deal of collusion between themselves and the Hutu government. Of course their is plenty of shame to go around.