Rwandan Genocide

Newspaper headline about the Rwandan Genocide (Alexandria Daily Town Talk, via Newspapers.com)

The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, was a genocidal mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda by members of the Hutu majority government. An estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 Rwandans were killed during the 100-day period from 7 April to mid-July 1994, constituting as many as 70% of the Tutsi population. Additionally, 30% of the Pygmy Batwa were killed. The genocide and widespread slaughter of Rwandans ended when the Tutsi-backed and heavily armed Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) led by Paul Kagame took control of the country. An estimated 2,000,000 Rwandans, mostly Hutus, were displaced and became refugees. Wikipedia

Learn more about the Rwandan Genocide through historical newspapers from our archives. Explore newspaper articles, headlines, images, and other primary sources below.

Articles and Clippings about Rwandan Genocide

History of ethnic conflict in Rwanda leading up to the genocide; includes map and timeline Fri, Apr 8, 1994 – 6 · The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.comFighting breaks out in Rwanda after presidents of Rwanda and Burundi are killed in plane crash Thu, Apr 7, 1994 – 8 · The Noblesville Ledger (Noblesville, Indiana) · Newspapers.com"Rwandan capital falls into anarchy"; UN soldiers and acting premier killed; city "just fell apart" Fri, Apr 8, 1994 – Page 7 · The Des Moines Register (Des Moines, Iowa) · Newspapers.comForeign nationals are evacuated from Rwanda; presence of foreign troops has "no impact" on violence Sun, Apr 10, 1994 – 1 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Rwanda Patriotic Front rebels firing mortars toward government troops Mon, Apr 11, 1994 – 2 · The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, California) · Newspapers.comRebels clash with government forces in Rwandan capital; countryside also sees violence; April 1994 Tue, Apr 12, 1994 – Page 2 · Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan) · Newspapers.comRwandans await food and medical aid from United Nations; 12,000 are under UN protection Mon, Apr 18, 1994 – Page 10 · Tallahassee Democrat (Tallahassee, Florida) · Newspapers.com"Fighting leaves thousands dead, homeless in Rwanda" April 1994 Tue, Apr 19, 1994 – 14 · The Times Recorder (Zanesville, Ohio) · Newspapers.comHundreds of UN peacekeepers are withdrawn from Rwanda because of the violence Thu, Apr 21, 1994 – Page 3 · The Town Talk (Alexandria, Louisiana) · Newspapers.comRwandan capital of Kigali is under severe shelling; "health disaster is imminent" Wed, Apr 27, 1994 – Page 95 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Newspapers.comEyewitness account of Rwandan genocide; "we are all afraid, and we are starving" Fri, Apr 29, 1994 – 3 · News-Journal (Mansfield, Ohio) · Newspapers.comHundreds of thousands of Rwandan refugees flee to Kenya and Tanzania to escape genocide Sat, Apr 30, 1994 – 1 · Santa Maria Times (Santa Maria, California) · Newspapers.comExiled King of Rwanda calls for peace and the end of "pure genocide" Mon, May 2, 1994 – Page 10 · The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) · Newspapers.comSurvivors are able to identify some of those responsible for the ongoing Rwandan Genocide Sun, May 8, 1994 – 15 · The Observer (London, Greater London, England) · Newspapers.comDescription of conditions in a Rwandan refugee camp May 1994 Sat, May 21, 1994 – 15 · The Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.comPolitical cartoon about the West’s involvement and relationship with Rwanda Sun, May 29, 1994 – Page 23 · Albuquerque Journal (Albuquerque, New Mexico) · Newspapers.comOpinion: "How to stop the genocide in Rwanda" Sun, May 29, 1994 – 37 · The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) · Newspapers.comNine priests murdered in Rwandan capital by rebel soldiers, June 1994 Fri, Jun 10, 1994 – 10 · The Desert Sun (Palm Springs, California) · Newspapers.comTutsi survivor of genocide seeks revenge; France urges genocide trials Fri, Jun 17, 1994 – 9 · Casper Star-Tribune (Casper, Wyoming) · Newspapers.comPhoto: Tutsi refugees who survived the genocide huddle as French helicopter takes off Sun, Jul 3, 1994 – Page 44 · St. Louis Post-Dispatch (St. Louis, Missouri) · Newspapers.com"Rebels seize the capital of Rwanda"; Rwandan Patriotic Front captures Kigali Tue, Jul 5, 1994 – Page 43 · The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Newspapers.comHundreds of thousands of Hutus flee Rwanda as Tutsi rebels near victory Sat, Jul 16, 1994 – Page 3 · Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comOpinion: "The slow reaction to Rwanda: As people died, nations debated what to do" Sun, Jul 17, 1994 – Page 23 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comRwandan refugees are urged to return; Pres. Clinton sends aid; Cholera breaks out among refugees Sat, Jul 23, 1994 – Page 8 · The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.comRwandan leaders call for genocide trials against Hutu officials Wed, Aug 3, 1994 – Page 4 · The Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, New Mexico) · Newspapers.comHutu refugees stay in refugee camps in fear of retaliation back in Rwanda Mon, Aug 8, 1994 – 8 · Austin American-Statesman (Austin, Texas) · Newspapers.comImage of Rwandan refugee children pleading with soldiers to cross the bridge out of Rwanda Wed, Dec 28, 1994 – 6 · Corvallis Gazette-Times (Corvallis, Oregon) · Newspapers.comPropaganda and radio broadcasts played role in Tutsi genocide Sun, Aug 21, 1994 – Page 107 · The Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio) · Newspapers.comOpinion: Modern war crimes should be punished; Rwandan genocide compared to Holocaust Sun, Aug 28, 1994 – 10 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.comPhoto of Rwandan refugees huddling for shelter under plastic sheet Sat, Sep 10, 1994 – Page 8 · The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, California) · Newspapers.comOpinion: "Rwandan genocide shows life losing value" Fri, Oct 14, 1994 – 4 · News Herald (Port Clinton, Ohio) · Newspapers.comUN Security Council votes to set up international tribunal for Rwandan genocide Wed, Nov 9, 1994 – 4 · The Central New Jersey Home News (New Brunswick, New Jersey) · Newspapers.comBelgium investigators fear perpetrators of Rwandan genocide will go unpunished Sun, Nov 13, 1994 – Page 9 · The Republic (Columbus, Indiana) · Newspapers.comExtremist Hutus may be targeting witnesses of Rwandan genocide for death Mon, Dec 12, 1994 – Page 4 · Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois) · Newspapers.comFirst two Rwandans are convicted of genocide and sentenced to death Thu, Dec 29, 1994 – Page 4 · Indiana Gazette (Indiana, Pennsylvania) · Newspapers.com