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Some Notes on the Failed Decolonization of Rwanda

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Záhořík J.

West Bohemian Historical Review

2012

vol. 2

issue 2

133–146

The study addresses some important issues concerning the decolonization of Rwanda as reflected mostly in Belgian archival documents. Its main aim is to analyze the polarizing ethno-political atmosphere which resulted from completely failed policy of “racial” division of natives in Rwanda into fixed categories of “Hutu” and “Tutsi”. It deals with the process of artificial ethnic categorization and its materialization in the political struggle in the last years of Belgian colonial rule which were, retrospectively, probably the most crucial and turbulent in Rwandan modern history, especially when it comes to the genocide in 1994. Proclamation of Rwandan independence in 1962, victory of the Hutu political parties in autumn of 1961, and ambivalent attitude of the Belgian administration toward increasing tensions presented the first major threat to the cohabitation of the Hutu and Tutsi in Rwanda, which still remains one of the most tangible examples of the negative effects of the European colonialism, and the quick, unprepared, chaotic, and desperately underestimated decolonization which, in many other cases, led to deep political crises in Africa.

Colonial Perspective and Nationalism(s) in Ethiopia in the Context of African Decolonization

86%

Záhořík J.

West Bohemian Historical Review

2014

vol. 4

issue 1

149-174

Ethiopia has never been colonized except for a short period of Italian occupation in 1930s. It would seem that the absence of European colonialism contributed to a rather different development of nationalism due to many different historical factors and experiences. However, since 1950s, and more openly from the 1960s we can see the rise of nationalism in Ethiopia which used the same “colonial” perspectives as their other African counterparts. When civil war broke out in 1962 and Eritrea began to struggle for independence, it had a direct impact on other nationalist movements in Ethiopia itself, namely the Oromo nationalism. Moreover, in the era of decolonization, Marxism played a role of an inspirational revolutionary ideology in many corners of Africa. The same can be said about the Oromo nationalism, as it was the main bearer of Marxism which then resulted in series of uprising leading to the deposition of Haile Sellassie. Suddenly, demands on democratization, self-determination,equality, and human rights began to be articulated with the same intensity as, for instance, in Rwanda. Later on, demands on “decolonization”, i.e. dismantling of “traditional” Imperial régime formed a part of the “social revolution”. Haile Sellassie’s regime, once hailed as modernizing, began to be seen as backward and in many senses “colonizing” type of rule. It had also a direct impact on national identity and/or identities, because the nationalist movements redefined centuries long “map” of Ethiopia by giving accent to the diverse nature of Ethiopia’s population.

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Some Notes on the Failed Decolonization of Rwanda

Colonial Perspective and Nationalism(s) in Ethiopia in the Context of African Decolonization