Final answer:
The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 was the result of historical ethnic divisions fostered by colonial powers, leading to a violent campaign by Hutu extremists against the Tutsi minority. A lack of international intervention contributed to the severity of the genocide, which claimed around 800,000 lives and resulted in a massive refugee crisis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Rwandan Genocide of 1994 was a horrific event that led to the death of approximately 800,000 Rwandans, primarily from the Tutsi minority. The seeds of ethnic tension were sown during the colonial period, when first the Germans, then the Belgians, favored the Tutsi minority for administrative roles over the Hutu majority. This favoritism created resentment and a hierarchy that was exploited and exacerbated by the colonizers through tactics such as scientific racism and Social Darwinism.
Following independence in 1962, the power vacuum and subsequent civil wars led to the eventual genocide. Hutu warlords launched a violent campaign against the Tutsi, with support from the Hutu populace, fueled by historical resentments and the propagation of fear and ethnic hatred. Key international players, such as the United States, did not intervene, partly influenced by the recent failure in Somalia and a lack of strategic interest.
The genocide was characterized by mass killings in places of refuge such as schools and churches, leading to a humanitarian crisis with over a million Tutsi refugees fleeing and approximately 2 million Hutus later fleeing amid fears of retribution. The genocide ended when Tutsi-led forces took control of the government, but the consequences continue to affect the region and its history remains a powerful reminder of the dangers of ethnic division and international inaction.