The Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa are the three major indigenous ethnic groups in Africa. The Twa, with an average height of less than 1.4 meters, are one of the shortest races in the world. The Hutu and Tutsi are quite similar, with an average height of 1.83 meters, making them one of the tallest races.
The Hutu and Tutsi primarily live in Central Africa, in countries like Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda.
Before 1990, the population ratio of Hutu to Tutsi in Rwanda was 85% to 14%. The less numerous Tutsi were wealthier, often engaged in commerce and government roles, while the more numerous Hutu were under their control, and the two groups had relatively harmonious relations. 
In 1994, a genocide that shocked the world drastically reduced the Tutsi population, nearly leading to the extinction of the race. This genocide was triggered by European countries stirring up trouble, causing deep-seated hatred between the Hutu and Tutsi.
Legacy of Ethnic Conflict
Despite Washington’s support for some African dictators and rebels over the years, by the 1990s, even though these dictators still existed, in the hearts of the suffering African people, they were long dead. The winds of freedom and democracy were blowing across the world, and at the time of the World Wars, Rwanda was still a colony of Germany and Belgium.
At this time, the domestic situation in Rwanda was that the less numerous Tutsi were ruling over the more numerous Hutu, with the ratio being approximately 2:8, and there was also a Twa group so small in number as to be negligible. Therefore, when Belgium and Germany withdrew, they handed over power to the more populous Hutu but did not resolve the lingering issues between the two ethnic groups.
A Man-Made Tragedy
Subsequently, a plane carrying the presidents of Rwanda and Burundi was shot down over the capital, killing both leaders. Rumors circulated that the Tutsis had orchestrated this incident, leading the entire Hutu population to begin a frenzied retaliation against the Tutsis. The next day, another horrifying event occurred – the Tutsi female prime minister and three Tutsi ministers were brutally murdered.
The Crash Site of the Rwandan and Burundi Presidents’ Plane
What was terrifying was that this was just the beginning, as the Hutu’s motto was “Leave None Behind,” including the elderly, women, and infants. According to official statistics, nearly 40% of the victims were hacked to death with machetes, about 20% were beaten to death with clubs, and the rest were either shot or humiliated to death.
Machetes Confiscated by the Government After the Rwandan Genocide
At the time, almost every Tutsi woman over the age of 12 did not escape the fate of being raped. Besides the military, a large number of Hutu civilians also participated in the genocide. The United States, considered the “world’s police,” suffered the most at the time, as deploying troops to Africa for peacekeeping resulted in numerous soldier casualties and accusations of interfering in domestic affairs. Later, when the U.S. remained silent, it was criticized for being irresponsible.
Hutu Militia with Machetes and Clubs at Checkpoints
The Devastating Impact of the Tragedy
This genocide, which was absolutely inhumane, lasted for four whole months!
In fact, most countries at the time turned a blind eye to the “Rwandan Genocide,” and some even continued to sell arms to the rioters.
This massacre, instigated by colonial powers and extremist forces within Rwanda’s government, brought immense disaster to Rwanda itself, exacerbating the already impoverished country’s plight. A large number of young and able-bodied workers were lost, pushing the nation’s economy to the brink of collapse.
At the same time, it left many women as widows, numerous children without guardians, and large groups of Hutu extremists fleeing to neighboring countries, infiltrating and destabilizing these nations as well.
