Before 1960 Rwanda was a colony of Belgium, during which time the Tutsis a minority Ethnic group, were propped up and put in power by Belgium. In which time I believe that Hutu's were relgated to s subservient role and in all likelihood were treated not so nicely. I only assume I've never read much on the precisely ethnic differences between teh two groups. But it basically came down to one in a superior position over the other for a very long time.
In 1959 Belgium relinquished their power over Rwanda and the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, quickly took over power. Over the next 30 years several civils wars break out between the Hutu Army and the growing Rwandan Popular Front, based in Burundi and and led in 1994 by now Rwandan President Paul Kagame. During this thirty year period of time, widespread violence is committed by the Hutus on the Tutsi's, and its basically a period of constant terrorizing by one ethnic group over another. This accelerates the growth and power of the Tutsi RPF rebels and by 1994 they make significant gains in parts of Rwanda in which they are able to control.
In 1994 a cease-fire agreement is reached, moderated by the UN and some 2500 peacekeepers are dispatched there to maintain the ceasefire, and oversea democratic elections of a government composed of both Tutsis and Hutus. It bascially suppose to be a traditional UN mission from here on.
Lt. Gen Romeo Dallaire, a Candadian officer leads the mission and quickly reports to the UN that he suspects that Hutu extremists the Interehamwe with assistance from the Hutu army are stockpiling machetes adn weapons. He decides that he wants to use his troops to raid these weapons caches, but is quickly stopped by then head of UN Peacekeeping Kofi Annan from making his raids. Annan instead tell Dallaire to report when he knows to the Hutu Government. Dallaire vehemently disagrees but does so anyways and does not touch the weapons cache.
Meanwhile Tutsi's are getting nervous, killings of Tutsi's are getting more common in the streets and people suspect that the Hutu's are up to something big. But they feel safe they are safe in the hands of their UN Protectors.
April 6th 1994, the plane carrying the Hutu President of Rwanda is shot down killing everyone on board. Almost instantly the mass murder begins and Tutsis and moderate Hutus begin getting slaughtered in the streets. A group of Interehamwe make their way to the home of the Prime Minister, a moderate Hutu woman who was then being protected by a security detail of Belgian and Ghanain UN Peacekeppers. This part of the story you'll have to get more details on from Dallaires autobiography "Shaking Hands with the Devil" but what basically happens is the troops are ordered not to shoot and surrender their weapons on the command of the Hutu extremists. The Ghanain soldiers are told that they may leave but the Belgian soldiers and the Prime Minister are told to stay. Not a few minutes later gunfire is heard and next thing you hear all ten of teh Belgian troops and the Prime Minister are killed in a massacre.
Belgium quickly chooses to pull out its contribution to the UN force already on teh ground, the majority of the original 2500. But they dont' want to look like cowards and want to save face, so the demand that the US and other countries pull their troops out too. And thats exactly what happened, within days of the Belgian soldiers getting killed, 350 US Marines, several hundred French Paratroopers, and 1000 Belgium troop land in Kigali Airport to evacuate ANYONE who WASN'T a Rwandan. They left as quickly as they came.
Paul Rusesabagina, the man portrayed by Don Cheadle in Hotel Rwanda had this to say about the white people pulling out,
“The United Nations abandoned these people who came begging to them for help...When the UN soldiers were leaving, children begged to be taken with them, otherwise they would be killed. But instead of taking them, do you know what they did? They evacuated the dogs of foreigners in Kigali. Do you know what that says to me? The life of a European dog is worth more than a Rwandan human being.”
Gen Dallaire and the 270 or 450 troops left, mostly from Senegal, Ghana and Bangladesh, are poorly equipped, many without guns or flak jackets, bravely decide that they cannot leave and try to save as many as they can. They secure soccer stadiums, hotels, churches, anything they can find with high walls, many times with only 1 or 2 men standing guard to stop whole groups of militias from coming in to kill the protected Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Gen Dallaire and his men are credited to saving thousands of lives with the token force he is left with. He is essentially abandoned by the UN and the rest of the world. The Red Cross and Doctors without Borders are also credited with saving thousands of lives with their efforts during the 100 day massacre.
800,000 dead Tutsis and moderate Hutus is the conservative estimate of how many were killed. On July 25, 1994 the Rwandan Popular Front led by now Rwandan President Paul Kagame finally take control of Kigali, ending the Hutu government and finally ending the genocide.
And the rest is history...
This website is an incredible resource to learn more.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/ 
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