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Rwanda civil war started in the year 1994. has been the most brutal civil war in the history of African countries. The civil war has come to an end trials of those held guilty are still going on in special courts named Gacaca. Gacaca Rwanda courts are putting great efforts to punish the accused.
In Rwanda there have been three major groups namely Tutsi,Twa and Hutu. The genocide was a result of the racial attitude of the then colonial rule in Rwanda. The hidden angst was incited gradually and erupted in the 1994 genocide of Rwanda when Tutsi tribes were brutally massacred. The estimated death toll is considered to be between 800,000 and 1,000,000. This brutal genocide was put to an end by a Tutsi group named Rwandan Patriotic Front when it seized power from the then Hutu government.
The civil war of Rwanda destroyed its economy, infrastructure and resources. Rwanda is still recovering from the effects of this civil war. Those found guilty for active or passive participation in the genocide were put on trials. But the western style of judgment was considered a tedious process by the government of Rwanda and the justice proceedings were ordered to be held in Gacaca courts of Rwanda. Gacaca courts are special courts of traditional Africa in the provinces of Rwanda divided into districts, sectors and cells. Nine judges are elected from the cells and in the presence of 100 people proceedings start.
The meetings are held for dwellers of cells found guilty. Those found guilty for property damages are given verdict by cell judges. Several meetings are held and the nature of crime is recorded with ample proofs. Then according to the seriousness of the charge guilty are sent for trial to sector and district judges. Gacaca proceedings work as a chain and proceedings are done in much easier way.
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