How did Belgian colonialism lead to the Rwandan Genocide?

Question

Beginning with how Belgium obtained its African possessions, briefly explain how Belgium created a political atmosphere which eventually led to the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.

Answer 1

The Belgian colonial government in Rwanda favored ethnic Tutsi's over ethnic Hutu's by giving them access to western education and privileges not given to Hutu in a 1918 treaty. This created a class system in the early 1900s that would be exacerbated with continued Belgian preference for Tutsi people. By 1926, ethnic cards are introduced to show who is a Tutsi and who is a Hutu. Class conflict continued throughout the 1900s as the two ethnic groups fought one another for control of Rwanda. Mainly, Hutu people massacred Tutsi in an attempt to gain privileges and status they were denied during the Belgian rule. In the end, these ethnic conflicts led to the Rwandan genocide where Hutu's indiscriminately murdered Tutsi's.