Rwanda's President Shot Down Starting a Genocide

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]The peacemaker was murdered by the extremists he tried to control. It's 1973. Kegali, Rwanda. A military commander seizes power in a bloodless coup, promising unity between hoous and tootssis. He carefully balances his government with both ethnic groups. He keeps the economy stable and maintains relative peace for 20 years. Foreign diplomats praise his moderation. But HOU extremists grow angry. They want total power and see Totsis as enemies to eliminate. When Tootszie rebels invade from Uganda, he chooses negotiation over war. Secret peace talks begin in Tanzania and he agrees to share power with Tootszie leaders. The extremists feel betrayed. Radio stations call him a traitor and his own party members plot in secret. On April 6th, 1994, his plane approaches Kegali airport after peace negotiations. Two missiles streak through the darkness and strike the aircraft. The plane explodes, killing him instantly. Within hours, roadblocks appear across the capital. Hoou militias begin slaughtering tootssis, using his death as their excuse. 800,000 people die in 100 days. The peacemaker who tried to prevent genocide was juvenile Habiari Mana.