The event that ignited the Rwandan Genocide in 1994 was the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana. His aircraft was shot down on April 6, 1994, which precipitated a swift and horrific outbreak of violence against the Tutsi minority by the ethnic Hutu majority. The genocide resulted in the massacre of an estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus over a span of approximately 100 days. This tragic event highlighted the consequences of ethnic tensions and failed international intervention, dramatically shaping Rwanda's future and its reconciliation efforts post-conflict.