The land flowing with milk and honey is geographically linked to East Africa in the IATA area. It borders Burundi, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania. It is fully in the southern hemisphere, close to the equator, and is home to gentle and hardworking people. The country has a population of 12.9 million people living on 26,338 square kilometers of land, making it the most densely populated mainland country in Africa.
Apart from its hills and wildlife, Rwanda has three tribes: the Hutu, Tutsi, and Twa. The Hutu make up 85% of the population and are the largest tribe. The Tutsi make up 14%, while the Twa are only 1%. The numbers dropped after the genocide, and today, people prefer to call themselves Rwandan or Rwandese rather than by their tribe.
The Hutu, also called Bahutu, are believed to have come from the Bantu migration from the Cameroon highlands. They settled in Rwanda and displaced the Twa, who were the original people of the land. The Hutu are humble people who mostly farm, and their language is similar to that of the Twa.
The Tutsi, also called Batutsi, are believed to be of Nilotic origin. They moved from place to place looking for water and pasture for their animals. Unlike the Hutu, who are farmers, the Tutsi are herdsmen. Their arrival in Rwanda pushed many Hutu to other places, which led to tribal conflicts. These conflicts became worse and led to the 1994 genocide, where groups like the Interahamwe (meaning “those who attack together”) and Impuzamugambi (meaning “those with the same goal”)—Hutu militias—fought against the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front (FPR). This caused the deaths of millions of people, most of them Tutsi.
The Twa, who were the first people to live in Rwanda, were displaced by the Hutu. Their population dropped to only 1%. The Twa were peaceful and mostly depended on hunting. They were also nomads and gatherers and are often found in forests.
Speaking negatively about the genocide can lead to arrest or public punishment.
