Extremists came to power and spread dehumanizing propaganda against the Tutsis encouraging violence and killing. A plan was put into place to carry out genocide against the Tutsis and all opponents in the government were killed as well. The UN and the international community did nothing to prevent the genocide. The RPF finally took back power and a mass movement of over one million Hutus went out of Rwanda into Zaire and Burundi. The cost of preventing the genocide would have been much cheaper in dollar terms than paying for humanitarian aid for the refugees afterward.
Politicians often use ethnic loyalties to get and remain in power.