The conflict in Rwanda was a complex and multi-faceted issue that had a long history of ethnic and political tensions, complicated by external influences, including European and American influences.
European colonization of Rwanda in the late 19th century had a profound impact on the country's social and political landscape. The Belgians, in particular, implemented a policy of divide and rule, favoring the Tutsi minority and granting them greater social and economic privileges over the Hutu majority. This created deep-seated resentment and tension between the two ethnic groups that persisted long after independence.
In addition, the Europeans introduced a system of ethnic identification, using physical characteristics such as height, nose shape, and skin color to distinguish between Hutus and Tutsis. This further reinforced the idea of ethnic difference and contributed to the development of a rigid social hierarchy, with the Tutsi at the top and the Hutu at the bottom.
During the Cold War era, both the United States and the Soviet Union supported various African nations, often aligning themselves with authoritarian regimes or supporting proxy wars in the region. In Rwanda, the United States supported the government of President Juvénal Habyarimana, even as it became increasingly authoritarian and repressive. The United States provided military and economic aid to the Rwandan government, which helped to consolidate power and suppress political opposition.
In the early 1990s, a rebel group called the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), composed mostly of Tutsis who had fled the country during previous periods of violence, launched an invasion of Rwanda from Uganda. This sparked a civil war that lasted for several years, and the government responded with increasing brutality and repression against the Tutsi population. The government-controlled media also played a role in fanning the flames of ethnic hatred, using divisive language to promote anti-Tutsi sentiment.
In 1994, the situation came to a head with the assassination of President Habyarimana, which was blamed on the RPF. This event triggered a genocide in which an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by government forces and Hutu militias. The international community, including the United States, was criticized for failing to intervene and stop the genocide.
In summary, European and American influences contributed to the conflict in Rwanda through their support of authoritarian regimes, their role in creating and exacerbating ethnic divisions, and their failure to intervene and stop the violence. These factors, along with the long history of ethnic tension and political repression, helped to create the conditions that led to one of the most devastating genocides in modern history.