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Rwanda

️Ben Cahoon

Rwanda

Map of Rwanda	Hear National Anthem "Rwanda Nziza" (Rwanda, Our Beautiful Country) Adopted 1 Jan 2002	Hear Former Anthem "Rwanda Rwacu" (Our Rwanda) (1 Jul 1962 - 31 Dec 2001)	Constitution (26 May 2003) ----------------------------------- 1995 Constitution (5 May 1995- 26 May 2003)
Capital: Kigali (Nyanza 1958-1962; Astrida 1935-1958; Butare 1916-1935; Royal capital: Nyanza 1899-1958)	Currency: Rwandan Franc (RWF); 1960-1964 Ruanda and Urundi Franc (BRIF); 1919-1960 Belgian Congo Franc (CEF)	National Holiday: 1 July (1962) Independence Day	Population: 13,623,302 (2024)
GDP: $42.7 billion (2023)	Exports: $3.5 billion (2023) Imports: $5.7 billion (2023)	Ethnic groups: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1% (2002)
Total Active Armed Forces: 33,000 (2019) Merchant marine: None (2023)	Religions: Protestant 49.5% (includes Adventist 11.8% and other Protestant 37.7%), Roman Catholic 43.7%, Muslim 2%, other 0.9% (includes Jehovah's Witness), none 2.5%, unspecified 1.3% (2012)
International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfCFTA, AfDB, AIIB (nonregional), APM, AU, BTWC, C, CCM, CEPGL, COMESA, CTBT, CWC, EAC, EADB, ECCAS, ESCR, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIF, OPCW, OST (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Rwanda Index	Chronology c.14.. Rwanda kingdom founded. 15.. Naoro dynasty begins rule. Aug 1884 German protectorate. 1 Jul 1890 Part of German East Africa (see Tanzania). (effective German control only since 1897; until 1899, part of the military district of Tanganyika-Kivu). 1899 - 15 Nov 1907 Part of the military district of Ruanda-Urundi (see under Burundi). 16 May 1916 Belgian occupation. 30 May 1919 - 1 Jan 1924 Belgium cedes Kisaka (Gisaka) region to British Tanganyika. 20 Jul 1922 Part of League of Nations mandate of Ruanda-Urundi under Belgium (see under Burundi). 28 May 1940 - 8 Sep 1944 Administration loyal to the Belgian government in exile during German occupation of Belgium. 13 Dec 1946 Rwanda forms part of United Nations trust territory under the name of Ruanda-Urundi, administered by Belgium (see under Burundi). 28 Jan 1961 Rwandan Republic (Republika y'u Rwanda = République Rwandaise). UN Trusteeship retained, monarchy is abolished. 6 Feb 1961 Authorities elected by the National Congress on 28 Jan 1962 are recognized by the Administering Authority for Ruanda-Urundi, ordinance issued by the Resident General of Ruanda-Urundi. 1 Jul 1962 Independence upon the termination of UN Trusteeship Agreement. 18 Jan 1996 English is recognized as an official language in addition to Kinyarwanda and French. 4 Jun 2003 Republic of Rwanda (Repubulika y'u Rwanda = République du Rwanda).
Hutu Kingdoms
Ruanda-Urundi (1896-1962)

Kings (Abami, singular Mwami)
c.1600 - c.1624            Ruganzu II Ndoli
c.1624 - c.1648        Mutara I Semugeshi
c.1648 - c.1672 Kigeli (Kigeri) II Nyamuheshera
c.1672 - c.1696 Mibambwe II Gisanura
c.1696 - c.1720            Yuhi III Mazimpaka
c.1720 - c.1744 Karemera Rwaka
c.1744 - c.1768 Cyilima II Rujugira
c.1768 - c.1792 Kigeli (Kigeri) III Ndabarasa
c.1792 - c.1797 Mibambwe III Sentabyo (d. c.1797)
c.1797 - c.1830 Yuhi IV Gahindiro
c.1830 - 1853            Mutara II Rwogera (d. 1853)
1853 - Nov 1895            Kigeli (Kigeri) IV Rwabugiri     (d. 1895)
Nov 1895 - Dec 1896        Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa           (d. 1896)
Dec 1896 - 12 Nov 1931     Yuhi V Musinga                   (b. 1883 - d. 1944)
Dec 1896 - 1916            Regency
- Kabare
- Kanyogera (Nyirayuhi V) (f)    (b. 18.. - d. 1933)
- Ruhinankiko
1911 - 10 Apr 1912         Ndungutse (in rebellion)         (b. 18.. - d. 1912)
12 Nov 1931 - 25 Jul 1959 Mutara III Rudahigwa             (b. 1913 - d. 1959)
25 Jul 1959 - 28 Jan 1961 Kigeli V Ndahindurwa             (b. 1936 - d. 2016)
   (from 25 Jul 1960 in exile)
Presidents
28 Jan 1961 - 26 Oct 1961 Dominique Mbonyumutwa (Hutu)     (b. 1921 - d. 1986) MDR-PARMEH
26 Oct 1961 - 5 Jul 1973 Grégoire Kayibanda (Hutu)        (b. 1924 - d. 1976) MDR-PARMEH
5 Jul 1973 - 6 Apr 1994 Juvénal Habyarimana (Hutu)       (b. 1937 - d. 1994) Mil;1975 MRND;
(president of the Committee for Peace               1991 MRNDD
and National Unity to 1 Aug 1973)
8 Apr 1994 - 18 Jul 1994 Théodore Sindikubwabo (Tutsi)    (b. 1928 - d. 1998) MRNDD
     (president of the National Development Council)
19 Jul 1994 - 23 Mar 2000 Pasteur Bizimungu (Hutu)         (b. 1950)            FPR
23 Mar 2000 -              Paul Kagame (Tutsi)              (b. 1957)            FPR
(interim to 22 Apr 2000)

Prime ministers
19 Oct 1960 - 1 Jul 1962 Grégoire Kayibanda (Hutu)        (s.a.)               MDR-PARMEH
1 Jul 1962 - 12 Oct 1991 Post abolished
12 Oct 1991 - 2 Apr 1992 Sylvestre Nsanzimana (Hutu)      (b. 1936 - d. 1999) MRNDD
2 Apr 1992 - 18 Jul 1993 Dismas Nsengiyaremye (Hutu)      (b. 1945)            MDR
18 Jul 1993 - 7 Apr 1994 Agathe Uwilingiyimana (f)(Hutu) (b. 1953 - d. 1994) MDR
9 Apr 1994 - 19 Jul 1994 Jean Kambanda (Hutu)             (b. 1955)            MDR
19 Jul 1994 - 31 Aug 1995 Faustin Twagiramungu (Hutu)      (b. 1945 - d. 2023) MDR
31 Aug 1995 - 8 Mar 2000 Pierre-Célestin Rwigema (Hutu)   (b. 1953)            MDR
8 Mar 2000 - 7 Oct 2011 Bernard Makuza (Hutu)            (b. 1961)      MDR;2003 Non-party
7 Oct 2011 - 24 Jul 2014 Pierre Damien Habumuremyi (Hutu) (b. 1961)    FPR
24 Jul 2014 - 30 Aug 2017 Anastase Murekezi (Hutu)         (b. 1952)        PSD
30 Aug 2017 -              Édouard Ngirente (Hutu)        (b. 1973)    PSD

German District Residents
1897 - 1907                the residents in Urundi
Oct 1907 - 1911            Richard Kandt (1st time)         (b. 1867 - d. 1918)
Nov 1911 - 1913            Eberhard Gudowius (acting)       (b. 1878 - d. 1945)
1913 - Dec 1913 Richard Kandt (2nd time)         (s.a.)
Dec 1913 - 17 May 1916     Max Wintgens (acting)            (b. 1881 - d. 1917)
17 May 1916 - 17 Jun 1916 Wilhelm Steffens Scharpes (acting)
Belgian Military residents
27 Jun 1916 - 30 Apr 1917 Gustave Eugène Henri Stevens     (b. 1866 - d. 1928)
30 Apr 1917 - Dec 1918     Gérard François Declerck         (b. 1878 - d. 1919)
Belgian Residents
4 Feb 1919 - 5 May 1919 Georges Mortehan (1st time) (b. 1883 - d. 1955)
5 May 1919 - 1920         Edouard van den Eende            (b. 1888 - d. 1947)
1920 - 28 Nov 1923         Georges Mortehan (2nd time) (s.a.)
1924 - 18 Feb 1925         Oger Coubeau (1st time)          (b. 1885 - d. 1961)
18 Feb 1925 - 1926         H.L. Keyser (acting)
1926 - 15 Sep 1928         Georges Mortehan (3rd time) (s.a.)
Sep 1928 - 14 Apr 1929     Oger Coubeau (acting)(2nd time) (s.a.)
14 Apr 1929 - 14 Sep 1929  Georges Mortehan (4th time) (s.a.)
14 Sep 1929 - 8 Jan 1930 H. Wilmin
8 Jan 1930 - 18 Dec 1932 Oger Coubeau (3rd time)          (s.a.)
19 Dec 1932 - 1 Mar 1935 Maurice Simon (1st time) (b. 1892 - d. 1960)
1 Mar 1935 - 1 Oct 1935 R. Hombert
1 Oct 1935 - 1 Aug 1938 Maurice Simon (2nd time)    (s.a.)
1 Aug 1938 - 24 Jan 1939 Albert M.C. Gille
24 Jan 1939 - 9 Sep 1940 Maurice Simon (3rd time)    (s.a.)
9 Sep 1940 - 15 Apr 1942 Jean F.G. Paradis (1st time) (b. 1905 - d. 1955)
15 Apr 1942 - 1 Jul 1942 Léon Grauls (1st time)
1 Jul 1942 - 21 Sep 1942 Maurice Simon (4th time)    (s.a.)
21 Sep 1942 - 15 Apr 1942 Léon Grauls (2nd time)
15 Apr 1942 - 1 Nov 1942 Jean F.G. Paradis (2nd time) (s.a.)
1 Nov 1942 - 1 Dec 1943 Léon Grauls (3rd time)
1 Dec 1943 - 24 Jan 1944 Jean F.G. Paradis (3rd time) (s.a.)
24 Jan 1944 - 27 Feb 1944 Léon Grauls (4th time)
27 Feb 1944 - 31 Mar 1945 George Victor Sandrart (1st time)(b. 1899 - d. 1973)
31 Mar 1945 - 4 Aug 1945 Léon Grauls (5th time)
4 Aug 1945 - 19 Mar 1947 George Victor Sandrart (2nd time)(s.a.)
19 Mar 1947 - 4 Aug 1947 Daniel Vauthier
4 Aug 1947 - 21 Jan 1948 Marcel Édouard Antoine Dessaint (b. 1903 - d. 1971)
(1st time)
28 Jan 1948 - 27 Jan 1951 George Victor Sandrart (3rd time)(s.a.)
27 Jan 1951 - 1957        Marcel Édouard Antoine Dessaint (s.a.)
(2nd time)
1954                     René-Charles Bourgeois   (b. 1909 - d. 2002)
(acting for Dessaint)
1957 - 11 Nov 1959         André Preud'homme (Prudhomme)    (b. 1915 - d. ....)
11 Nov 1959 - Jan 1962     Guillaume "Guy" Logiest          (b. 1912 - d. 1991)
(special military resident)
High Representative
Jan 1962 - 1 Jul 1962     Guillaume "Guy" Logiest          (s.a.)

Note: ethnic groups, which play a preeminent role in politics, are listed in parentheses following names where known i.e. (Hutu) or (Tutsi). All kings (mwami) were ethnic Tutsi.

International Disputes: Burundi's Ngozi province and Rwanda's Butare province dispute the two-kilometer-square hilly farmed area of Sabanerwa in the Rukurazi Valley where the Akanyaru/Kanyaru River shifted its course southward after heavy rains in 1965 around Kibinga Hill in Rwanda's Butare Province; the 2005 Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place; a Rwanda-Uganda joint technical committee established in 2007 to demarcate sections of the border.

Party abbreviations: FPR = Front Patriotique Rwandais (Rwandan Patriotic Front, social-democratic, mainly Tutsi, Tutis militant to 1994, est.1987); PSD = Parti Social Démocrate (Social Democratic Party, social democratic, center-left, est.1991); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: MDR = Mouvement Démocratique Républicain (Democratic Republican Movement, mainly Hutu, 1991-2003); MRND = Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Développement (Revolutionary Movement for National Development, Hutu, 1978-81 only legal party, 1975-1991, renamed MRNDD); MRNDD = Mouvement Républicain National pour le Développement et la Démocratie (National Republican Movement for Democracy and for Development, former MRND, 1991-1994); PARMEH = Parti du Mouvement de l'Emancipation Hutu (Party of the Movement for Hutu Emancipation, Hutu nationalist, 1959-1960, renamed MDR-PARMEH); MDR-PARMEH = Mouvement Démocratique Républicain - Parti du Mouvement de l'Emancipation du Peuple Hutu (Democratic Republican Movement-Party of the Movement for Emancipation of the Hutu People, ethnic Hutu, 1959-1973)