The creation of the Hutu power movement and the Interahamwe Notes

The Creation of the Hutu Power Movement and the Interahamwe

1. After independence and up to 1973, the Hutu majority took control under President Kayibanda, marginalizing the Tutsi politically and economically.
2. Ethnic violence intensified following attacks by Tutsi exiles (Inyenzi), leading to brutal reprisals against Tutsi civilians.
3. Estimates of those killed in 1963 range from 3,000 to 14,000.
4. Kayibanda’s regime promoted Hutu supremacy, using propaganda and Christian rhetoric to deepen ethnic divides and justify exclusionary policies.

Rwanda after Independence: Kayibanda’s Rule

1. Political and social challenges
   1. Like many post-colonial states, Rwanda struggled with corruption, regionalism, and one-party dominance.
   2. International support and diplomatic presence existed but had little influence.
2. Hutu nationalist identity
   1. President Kayibanda advanced a Hutu nationalist identity, further marginalizing Tutsi communities. This repression prompted many Tutsi to flee.
   2. Exiles joined movements abroad, which later developed into the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF).

Habyarimana’s Coup and the Second Republic (1973)

1. Seizure of power
   1. General Juvenal Habyarimana led a coup in 1973 after student purges and ongoing ethnic tensions.
   2. He dissolved Kayibanda’s regime and declared the start of the Second Republic.
   3. The MRND became the sole ruling party.
2. Image vs reality
   1. Habyarimana projected an image of stability and modesty abroad.
   2. In reality, his rule was authoritarian and nepotistic, enriching elites from his northern region.
3. Repression of opponents
   1. Political rivals, including Kayibanda, were sidelined and likely died due to state-sanctioned neglect.

Habyarimana’s Education Reforms

1. Expansion of education
   1. Habyarimana expanded access to education.
   2. However, reforms favored Hutu advancement while restricting Tutsi opportunities through ethnic quotas.
2. Policy of “social justice”
   1. This policy institutionalized discrimination against the Tutsi.
   2. It maintained colonial-era racial hierarchies, but now reversed to favor the Hutu majority.
3. Impact on society
   1. Although presented as equitable development, the reforms entrenched ethnic divisions.
   2. These measures fostered deep resentment that later contributed to the 1994 genocide.

The Interahamwe

1. RPF invasion and Civil War
   1. In 1990 the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) launched a military offensive on October 1st.
   2. The RPF was a rebel group mainly composed of Tutsi refugees living in exile, especially in Uganda.
   3. Their aim was to overthrow the Hutu-dominated government of President Juvénal Habyarimana and secure the right of return for Tutsi exiles.
   4. This marked the beginning of the Rwandan Civil War.
2. Government response and creation of the Interahamwe
   1. In response to the RPF invasion, the government intensified mobilization of civilians, reviving and expanding armed self-defense groups.
   2. The MRND created a new youth militia called the Interahamwe in 1991.
   3. The Interahamwe became the primary militant wing of the Hutu Power movement.
   4. They received both military and propaganda training to enforce ethnic divisions and encourage violence.

The Hutu Power Movement

1. Rise of extremist groups
   1. The Hutu Power movement included militias like the Interahamwe and Impuzamugambi and political factions such as the Akazu and CDR.
   2. They aggressively promoted Hutu supremacy, aiming to exclude and eventually exterminate the Tutsi minority.
   3. Propaganda and organized terror campaigns became widespread, embedding deep ethnic hatred into Rwandan society.
2. Permeation of state institutions
   1. By the early 1990s, the Hutu Power movement had spread into the government, military, and ruling elite, supported by groups like Network Zero.
   2. They were fully committed to eliminating Tutsi influence.
   3. Their beliefs were formalized in documents such as the Hutu Ten Commandments, which codified ethnic hatred and justified systemic discrimination and genocide.