As a nation, Rwanda has had a very interesting political and social boundary. Socially, Rwanda consist of three different ethnic groups. The Tutsi, Hutu and the Twa. The Tutsi are the majority of the country, making up 85% of the population. The Hutu make up around 14% and the Twa are the smallest group at 1% of the population. Historically, the Tutsi were considered the “elite,” who were in control of the political and social structure of Rwanda. The Tutsi received this title from the Germans you were in control of Rwanda at the time. The Tutsi were supposedly tall and handsome, which the Germans viewed as superior to the Hutu and Twa. The Hutu on the other hand were farmers and were considered to be short and not very attractive. The Twa people were hunters and gatherers and traditionally were very low in social circles.

         This division which was created by the Europeans, ultimately laid the ground for the civil war. In 1994 the Hutu’s and the government of Rwanda, which was a Hutu led office at the time, began a mass genocide of the Tutsi ethnic group lasting 100 days.  Over one million Rwandans were killed during the genocide, as well as between 150,000 to 250,000 women were raped. Ultimately, the genocide placed Rwanda in a political and economic hole for quite sometime. During the genocide most of the government was of the Hutu ethnicity, so Rwanda was without an organized government as well as a country whose law and infrastructure was destroyed.

            Since the genocide that took place over twenty years ago, Rwanda has been continually growing economically, politically and in gender equality. However, the Hutu extremist who fled the country after the genocide, are right next door and are still considered a threat to the recovery of Rwanda.

Sources 

Rwanda: A Brief History of the Country, un.org 

20 years later, What Has Happened Since The Rwanda Genocide? thinkprogress.org

Photos

http://endgenocide.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/01/rwanda-genocide.jpg

http://archive.worldvisionmagazine.org/sites/default/files/styles/full_image/public/media/V324-81_19_29073_380531.jpg?itok=RwLm_84t

http://wordsinthebucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/rwanda-ID-2-800x445.jpg