Beginning on April 7, 1994, the Rwandan Genocide saw an estimated 800,000 to over 1 million Tutsi and moderate Hutu killed in 100 days. Triggered by the assassination of President Habyarimana, it was a systematically planned campaign by Hutu extremists fueled by colonial-era ethnic divisions and hateful propaganda, marking a failure of international intervention.
The massacres occurred over roughly 100 days, from April to July 1994.
On April 6, 1994, a plane carrying President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down, sparking immediate violence.
Roadblocks were established across the country, and lists of targets were used by militias (Interahamwe) to systematically kill Tutsis and moderate Hutus.
The UN and international community were heavily criticized for failing to intervene to stop the killings.
Following the crisis, Rwanda has focused on national unity, justice (including Gacaca courts), and healing, with April 7 marking the start of the annual national mourning period (Kwibuka).
The genocide is remembered as a catastrophic failure to prevent violence and a testament to the resilience of survivors who work towards reconciliation.
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