Causes of the Rwanda revolution of 1959.
The
Tutsi political domination. The Tutsi minority had established a ruling
monarchy/aristocracy, which monopolized political power both before and
during the colonial rule.
Colonial legacy contributed to the revolution. Both the Germans and Belgians adopted indirect rule in Rwanda and used the Tutsi as collaborators partners in politics. Both colonial masters allowed the Mwami to practise feudalism.
Unfair land allocation also led to the revolution. The Tutsi minority owned most of the land in Rwanda. Since they were the ones in charge of land allocation in the Belgian colonial government, the Tutsi allocated themselves large tracts of land.
The cultural arrogance of the Tutsi: They claimed that they were the God-chosen rulers of Rwanda and boasted that Imana (the creator) had endowed them with intelligence divine powers, skills, courage etc.
Oppressive rule and forced labour. The Belgians employed the Tutsi to mobilise Hutu peasants to work on government projects such as roads, plantations and buildings.
Over-taxation of the Hutu. The Hutu were required to pay taxes both to the Belgian government and to the Mwami. Poll tax went to the government while tributes and land taxes were paid to the Mwami.
Belgian failure to create ethnic fusion in Rwanda led to the revolution. The Belgians made no attempts to unite the tribes of Rwanda. Through their divide and rule policy, they promoted the living standards of the Tutsi at the expense of both the Hutu and Twa.
The influence of the Catholic Church: Catholic priests preached equality and brotherhood in Churches. They called upon the Belgian colonialists to stop favouring the Tutsi.
Natural hazards also contributed to the revolution. Between 1945-1959, the Hutu had suffered from six phases of famine. This was due to lack of land by the majority Hutu. The little land they occupied was infertile and unsuitable for food production.
The influence of the 2nd World War. After world War II, Rwanda became a UN trustee territory. The UN was against colonialism and called upon the Belgians to speed up political reforms in Rwanda.
The role of the Hutu elites. The few Hutu who went to school worked hard and soon there emerged a small but strong group of Hutu elites. In 1957, the produced the Hutu manifesto in which they called for radical reforms and an end to Tutsi domination.
The harsh reaction to Hutu demonstrations. After a fruitless attempt to end their oppression through negotiations, the Hutu started holding demonstrations, boycotting Belgian farms and destroying the crops.
The Belgian democratization policy intensified the Hutu hostilities. In an effort to succumb to UN pressure and to calm the growing Hutu unrest, the Belgians made some abrupt democratic reforms and appointed a number of Hutu to senior posts n the colonial administration.
The Death of Mwami Matara III paved away for the revolution. In July 1959, the Tutsi Mwami Matara III died, was murdered without mentioning the heir. To the Belgians and Hutu, the death of Matara meant the end of the aristocracy.
The 1959 Gitarama massacres. He Tutsi murderous regime had trained a number of Twa commandos whom they used to carryout indiscriminate killings of the Hutu.
External influence. To a small extent, the wave of nationalism across Africa at that time made the Hum to rise against the Belgians and their Hutu puppets. News of the Egyptian revolution of 1952, the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya 1952-1955 etc led to a revolutionary spirit amongst the elites.
The long tradition of Hutu resistance. The Hutu were inspired by stories of the earlier resistances of their ancestors against the Tutsi superiority. The memories of their Nyabingi resistance against the colonialists and their Tutsi collaborators were still fresh in their minds. This inspired the youths to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Hence the 1959 revolution in Rwanda.
Colonial legacy contributed to the revolution. Both the Germans and Belgians adopted indirect rule in Rwanda and used the Tutsi as collaborators partners in politics. Both colonial masters allowed the Mwami to practise feudalism.
Unfair land allocation also led to the revolution. The Tutsi minority owned most of the land in Rwanda. Since they were the ones in charge of land allocation in the Belgian colonial government, the Tutsi allocated themselves large tracts of land.
The cultural arrogance of the Tutsi: They claimed that they were the God-chosen rulers of Rwanda and boasted that Imana (the creator) had endowed them with intelligence divine powers, skills, courage etc.
Oppressive rule and forced labour. The Belgians employed the Tutsi to mobilise Hutu peasants to work on government projects such as roads, plantations and buildings.
Over-taxation of the Hutu. The Hutu were required to pay taxes both to the Belgian government and to the Mwami. Poll tax went to the government while tributes and land taxes were paid to the Mwami.
Belgian failure to create ethnic fusion in Rwanda led to the revolution. The Belgians made no attempts to unite the tribes of Rwanda. Through their divide and rule policy, they promoted the living standards of the Tutsi at the expense of both the Hutu and Twa.
The influence of the Catholic Church: Catholic priests preached equality and brotherhood in Churches. They called upon the Belgian colonialists to stop favouring the Tutsi.
Natural hazards also contributed to the revolution. Between 1945-1959, the Hutu had suffered from six phases of famine. This was due to lack of land by the majority Hutu. The little land they occupied was infertile and unsuitable for food production.
The influence of the 2nd World War. After world War II, Rwanda became a UN trustee territory. The UN was against colonialism and called upon the Belgians to speed up political reforms in Rwanda.
The role of the Hutu elites. The few Hutu who went to school worked hard and soon there emerged a small but strong group of Hutu elites. In 1957, the produced the Hutu manifesto in which they called for radical reforms and an end to Tutsi domination.
The harsh reaction to Hutu demonstrations. After a fruitless attempt to end their oppression through negotiations, the Hutu started holding demonstrations, boycotting Belgian farms and destroying the crops.
The Belgian democratization policy intensified the Hutu hostilities. In an effort to succumb to UN pressure and to calm the growing Hutu unrest, the Belgians made some abrupt democratic reforms and appointed a number of Hutu to senior posts n the colonial administration.
The Death of Mwami Matara III paved away for the revolution. In July 1959, the Tutsi Mwami Matara III died, was murdered without mentioning the heir. To the Belgians and Hutu, the death of Matara meant the end of the aristocracy.
The 1959 Gitarama massacres. He Tutsi murderous regime had trained a number of Twa commandos whom they used to carryout indiscriminate killings of the Hutu.
External influence. To a small extent, the wave of nationalism across Africa at that time made the Hum to rise against the Belgians and their Hutu puppets. News of the Egyptian revolution of 1952, the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya 1952-1955 etc led to a revolutionary spirit amongst the elites.
The long tradition of Hutu resistance. The Hutu were inspired by stories of the earlier resistances of their ancestors against the Tutsi superiority. The memories of their Nyabingi resistance against the colonialists and their Tutsi collaborators were still fresh in their minds. This inspired the youths to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Hence the 1959 revolution in Rwanda.
National Movements and New States in Africa