Belgium’s role in the Rwandan genocide is often overshadowed by France’s involvement. Its responsibility traces back to colonial rule over Rwanda, which fostered divisions between Tutsis and Hutus through racial classification and preferential treatment. Consequently, Belgium failed to support Rwanda during the genocide in 1994 and withdrew its peacekeepers, exacerbating the tragedy. Belgium later acknowledged its complicity through a formal apology in 2000.
Belgium’s complicity in the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in Rwanda is frequently overshadowed by the discourse surrounding France’s involvement. However, its roots can be traced to the post-World War I period when Belgium assumed control over Rwanda and Burundi, former German colonies. Lacking knowledge of these regions, the Belgian administration opted for indirect governance through existing feudal structures led by traditional leaders, called mwami, exacerbating ethnic tensions.
The Belgian colonial regime, guided by anthropometry—a now-discredited science of racial classification—deemed the Tutsis as racially superior due to perceived Hamitic origins linked to cattle herding. This classification distorted social relations, prompting the Belgians to elevate the Tutsi elite while simultaneously undermining local Hutu authority and engendering significant resentment. The religious landscape was manipulated as Catholicism replaced traditional beliefs, further fracturing national cohesion.
Colonial policies bolstered the Tutsi elite as agents of the administration, facilitating oppressive practices against Hutus, who were subjected to forced labor and denied access to education. Meanwhile, identity cards were instituted, which worsened ethnic divisions by officially recognizing the bearer’s ‘ethnicity’. This system, initially effective, ultimately backfired as Hutus mobilized in response to perceived injustices, leading to the emergence of political movements advocating for Hutu emancipation.
The social unrest culminating in the 1959 revolution revealed a deepening divide between Hutus and Tutsis, with the former revolting against Tutsi officials rather than colonial powers. Following Rwanda’s independence in 1962, Hutu power dynamics prospered, supported by Belgium, which believed the Hutus’ numerical superiority would ensure stability. The regime led by Hutu President Juvénal Habyarimana enjoyed Belgium’s favor, positioning the nation as a significant recipient of Belgian aid for decades.
As political tensions escalated, particularly amid the military incursions by Tutsi exiles from Uganda, Belgium’s response was muted. During the Rwandan Patriotic Front’s offensive in 1990, Belgian support for the Rwandan government wavered, and crucial military aid was withheld. Even while promoting dialogue and negotiations, Belgium underestimated the potential for mass violence among its once-cherished allies, leading to tragic consequences that unfolded in 1994.
In early April 1994, Belgium suffered the loss of ten of its peacekeepers, prompting a swift reassessment of its involvement. The rising hostility culminated in calls for the withdrawal of Belgian troops from Rwanda, concurrently with the intensifying genocide. This decision to abandon Rwanda, underscored by a lack of strategic foresight, has since been a point of grievance in Belgian reflections on its colonial past and its ramifications.
It was not until April 2000 that Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt publicly acknowledged the country’s complicity in the atrocities committed during this dark chapter of Rwandan history, asking for forgiveness from the Rwandan people. This apology highlights a critical reckoning with Belgium’s historical actions and the long-lasting impact of colonial policies that ignored ethnic realities and exacerbated tensions in Rwanda.
Belgium’s involvement in the Rwandan genocide illustrates the profound consequences of colonial mismanagement and racial classification. By favoring the Tutsis and undermining local authority structures, colonial powers established a legacy of division and resentment, ultimately leading to catastrophic violence. The subsequent failure to comprehend the threat of genocide, coupled with the withdrawal of peacekeeping forces, marked a tragic turning point in Rwanda’s history. The Belgian apology serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and reflection on the impact of colonialism.
Original Source: www.ktpress.rw
