The Rwandan genocide began with the assassination of Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, a notable figure in Rwanda's political landscape, as tensions escalated between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. Soon after her death, organized killings of Tutsis erupted in the capital city, Kigali, marking the onset of widespread violence across the nation. The genocide was rooted in decades of ethnic conflict, intensified by the colonial period when the Belgians favored the minority Tutsis over the Hutus, leading to a deeper rift. Despite international warnings and prior instances of violence, the responses from global powers were slow and ineffective.

In the days that followed, militia groups known as the Interahamwe implemented strategies of mass extermination, utilizing checkpoints and lists to identify Tutsi victims systematically. The violence soon spread to all corners of Rwanda, with thousands being massacred in their homes, and it is estimated that within 100 days, hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus had been killed. The genocide was characterized by extreme brutality, with numerous accounts of sexual violence and torture.

The televised images and reports of the genocide shocked the world, revealing the inadequacy of international efforts and peacekeeping missions to prevent or halt such atrocities. The events in Rwanda ignited discussions on humanitarian intervention and the responsibilities of nations to protect civilians, shaping future international policies and responses to such crises.