I Know the Devil Exists: The Rwandan Genocide

“I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil. I have seen him, I have smelled him and I have touched him. I know the devil exists and therefore I know there is a God.”
–Roméo Dallaire

Even today, the countries of Africa are in their youth. Yet, already, the continent has seen more than enough violence in the 50 years since decolonization. The scars from European rule run deep, and continue to cause untold hardship. By far, the most well know scar rests on Rwanda, a small country in Central-East Africa in the great lakes region. Tensions between the Tutsi and Hutu population had grown significantly since its independence, and a civil war began in the late 1980s between the predominant Tutsi Rwandan Patriotic Front and the predominant Hutu government. A peace compromise as eventually negotiated in 1993, and the UN stepped in to observe the ceasefire. However, the peace would be destroyed in a plane crash, and result in the worst genocide the world had seen since the Holocaust.

Immediately after the crash, the radios across Rwanda had one message:

"Cut the tall trees!"

Music:

Ne Me Laisse Pas Seule Ici from Hotel Rwanda

Things Fall Apart by Philanthrope