- „Hutu and Tutsi are two ethnies" alleged the explorer John Speke in 1859.
„theTutsi originate from northern Africa and are taller, more nobel and clever than the small, fat and negroid Hutu, originating from Central Africa.“
- According to this theory the belgium colonialists issued passports in 1919, in which the "ethnicity" was written down. They favoured the Tutsi and gave them more power. Therefore they could split the rwandan people and consolidate the colonial regime.
- In the 50s Rwanda fought for it's independence. The Hutu, being the majority, started to claim their rights to share power. From then on the Tutsi were persecuted and many forced into exile.
- As the RPF, the army of exiles, entered the country, pressure increased on the Tutsi living in Rwanda. They were considered potential traitors.
- Hutu extremists in the government drummed up support to wipe out the Tutsi. They bought weapons and trained groups to kill.
- On April 7th 1994, the plane of the Hutu president, Habyarimana, was shot down. It's still unclear who was responsible, but it was the starting gun for the genocide.
- In 1994 more than one million Tutsi and moderate Hutu were killed in a genocide lasting 100 days. Another 50.000 Hutu died in the ensuing war. France had political and regional interests and supplied the Hutu government with military and financial support up until 1994.
- The commander of the RPF, army of exiles, Paul Kagame, went on a training course in 1990 at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
- In July 1994 the RPF defeated the Hutu regime. Paul Kagame became Vice president and later the President of Rwanda.
- The words Hutu and Tutsi were removed from the official Rwandan dictionary.
- Today the most common conviction is for ethnic discrimination. It carries a sentence of 10 years in prison.
- Over a million refugees came back to Rwanda after the genocide.
- Returnees from the West are often wealthier and better educated.