Divided: Rwanda

Each color on the above map represents a different language community
The colonial borders divide the Kinyarwanda-Rundi speaking community almost in half, with small groups over the borders in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

The original political settlement of the region after independence had one faction rule one country, and the other in the other. As if America was split in half and the ruling Democrats went to one half, and the top Republicans to the other.

Since independence, Rwanda has been the scene of a terrible genocide between people who could easily communicate with each other. Some of this, no doubt, was a legacy of the class rule that existed before, and was formalized by, the Belgians during their occupation. However, some can be laid directly at the feet of the borders drawn irrespective of the local populace.

History

Rwanda-urundi was a colony of Germany, first part of German Tanganyika, given to Belgium by mandate after the first World War, and ruled by the Belgians until independence.

Some question I have include: How did Germany become the only country in Europe to get an African colony whose borders roughly matched the linguistic boundaries? Why did they carve Rwanda-Urundi off of Tanganyika? Was it the move of a colonial administrator or the central government?

The Belgians were infamous for their inhumane treatment of their overseas colonies. Both Rwanda and Burundi were at that time one country, known as Ruanda-rundi. Hutus and Tutsis exist in both sections. As indpendence approached, elections were held and the Hutu majorities in Rwanda gave them power. In the Rundi area, concerned Tutsis from the existing leadership arranged to have the country split in two, setting up a constitutional monarchy in Rundi lands.

Almost everyone who speaks Rwandan lives in Rwanda or Burundi, and no other language group forms a majority in any region of either country.

The 1994 Genocide

Uganda wanted to topple the Rwandan government. Using the small region of Uganda with Kinyarwanda speakers, they launched a proxy war against Rwanda. The genocide against Tutsis was the Rwandan government's response to the war.

Safely hidden among Kinyarwanda speakers, over the border in another country, the proxy war was difficult to stop. If the borders of Rwanda had matched the borders of the Kinyarwanda speakers, it would have been far more difficult for Uganda to launch a war.