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Rwanda 
 
[Rwanda flag, 1959-1961]
                1959 - 28 Jan 1961 
 
[Rwanda flag, 1961 - 1962]
            28 Jan 1961 - 1 Jul 1962
 
[Rwanda, 1962-2001]
              1 Jul 1962 - 25 Oct 2001
 
[Rwanda]
                Adopted 25 Oct 2001
 


Map of Rwanda
Hear National Anthem
"Rwanda nziza"
(Rwanda,
Our Beautiful Country)
Adopted 1 Jan 2002
Hear Former Anthem
"Rwanda rwacu"
(Our Rwanda)
(1962 - 1 Jan 2002)
Constitution
(26 May 2003)
------------------------------
1995 Constitution
(5 May 1995- 26 May 2003)
Capital: Kigali
Currency: Rwandan Franc
(RWF) 
National Holiday: 1 July (1962)
Independence Day
Population: 10,473,282 (2009)
GDP: $9.06 billion (2008)
Exports: $219 million (2008)
Imports: $759 million (2008)
Ethnic groups: Hutu 85%, Tutsi 14%, Twa
(Pygmoid ) 1% (2002) 
Total Active Armed Forces: 35,000 (2006)
Merchant marine: None (2008)
Religions: Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%,
Seventh Day Adventist 11.1%,  Muslim 4.6%,
traditional beliefs 0.1%, other/none 1.7% (2001) 
International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, AfDB, APM, AU, BTWC, C, CEPGL, COMESA, CTBT, EAC, FAO, G-77, IAEA (applicant), IBRD, ICAO,  ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISA (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCLOS (signatory), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, 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 Burundi).
17 Jun 1916                Belgian occupation.
20 Jul 1922                Part of League of Nations mandate of 
                             Ruanda-Urundi under Belgium (see Burundi).
13 Dec 1946                United Nations trust territory under Belgium 
                             (see Burundi).
18 Oct 1960                Autonomy (Rwanda Provisional Government).
28 Jan 1961                Rwandan Republic (or Republic of Rwanda).
 1 Jul 1962                Independence from Belgium.
 4 Jun 2003                Republic of Rwanda

Hutu kingdoms
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Kings (Abami, singular Mwami)
16.. - c.1696              Yuhi III Mazimpaka
.... - ....                Karemera Rwaka
.... - ....                Cyilima II Rujugira
.... - 1741                Kigeri III Ndabarasa
1741 - 17..                Mibambwe III Sentabyo
17.. - 1802                Yuhi IV Gahindiro
1802 - 1853                Mutara II Rwogera
1853 - Nov 1895            Kigeri IV Rwabugiri              (d. 1895)
Nov 1895 - Nov 1896        Mibambwe IV Rutarindwa           (d. 1896)
Nov 1896 - 12 Nov 1931     Yuhi V Musinga                   (b. 1883 - d. 1944)
Nov 1896 - 1916            Regency
                           - Kabare
                           - Kanyogera (f)                  (b. 18.. - d. 1933)
                           - Ruhinankiko
1911 - 10 Apr 1912         Ndungutse (in rebellion)         (d. 1912)
12 Nov 1931 - 25 Jul 1959  Mutara III Rudahigwa             (b. 1913 - d. 1959)
25 Jul 1959 - 28 Jan 1961  Kigeri V Ndahindurwa             (b. 1936) 
                             (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 (acting)   (b. 1928 - d.c.1998?)MRNDD
19 Jul 1994 - 23 Mar 2000  Pasteur Bizimungu (Hutu)         (b. 1950)            FPR
24 Mar 2000 -              Paul Kagame (Tutsi)              (b. 1957)            FPR
                             (interim to 22 Apr 2000) 

Prime ministers
18 Oct 1960 - 28 Jan 1961  Joseph Habyarimana Gitera (Hutu) (b. 1919 - d .....)  APROSOMA
28 Jan 1961 -  1 Jul 1962  Grégoire Kayibanda (Hutu)        (s.a.)               MDR-PARMEH
12 Oct 1991 -  2 Apr 1992  Sylvestre Nsanzimana (Hutu)      (b. 1936)            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)            MDR 
31 Aug 1995 -  8 Mar 2000  Pierre-Célestin Rwigema (Hutu)   (b. 1953)            MDR
 8 Mar 2000 -              Bernard Makuza (Hutu)            (b. 1961)            MDR
 

German residents
1897 - 1907                the residents in Urundi
Aug 1907 - 1911            Richard Kandt (1st time)         (b. 1867 - d. 1918)
1911 - 1913                Gudowius
1913 - 1914                Richard Kandt (2nd time)         (s.a.)
1914 - 17 May 1916         Max Wintgens (acting)
17 May 1916 - 17 Jun 1916  Scharpes
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. 19..)
 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. 19..)
1925 - 1926                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  Wilmin 
 8 Jan 1930 - 18 Dec 1932  Oger Coubeau (3rd time)          (s.a.)
19 Dec 1932 -  1 Mar 1935  Simon (1st time)
 1 Mar 1935 -  1 Oct 1935  Hombert
 1 Oct 1935 -  1 Aug 1938  Simon (2nd time)
 1 Aug 1938 - 24 Jan 1939  Gille
24 Jan 1939 -  9 Sep 1940  Simon (3rd time)
 9 Sep 1940 - 15 Apr 1942  Paradis (1st time)
15 Apr 1942 -  1 Jul 1942  Grauls (1st time)
 1 Jul 1942 - 21 Sep 1942  Simon (4th time)
21 Sep 1942 - 15 Apr 1942  Grauls (2nd time)
15 Apr 1942 -  1 Nov 1942  Paradis (2nd time)
 1 Nov 1942 -  1 Dec 1943  Grauls (3rd time)
 1 Dec 1943 - 24 Jan 1944  Paradis (3rd time)
24 Jan 1944 - 27 Feb 1944  Grauls (4th time)
27 Feb 1944 - 31 Mar 1945  George Victor Sandrart (1st time)(b. 1899 - d. 1973)
31 Mar 1945 -  4 Aug 1945  Grauls (5th time)
 4 Aug 1945 - 19 Mar 1947  George Victor Sandrart (2nd time)(s.a.)
19 Mar 1947 -  4 Aug 1947  Vauthier
 4 Aug 1947 - 21 Jan 1948  Dessaint
28 Jan 1948 - 27 Jan 1951  George Victor Sandrart (3rd time)(s.a.)
27 Jan 1951 - 1953?        Marcel Édouard Antoine Dessaint  (b. 1903 - d. 1971)
1953? - 1958               ....
1958 - 11 Nov 1959         André Preud'homme                (b. 1915)
11 Nov 1959 - Jan 1962     Guillaume "Guy" Logiest          (b. 1912) 
                             (special military resident)
High Representative
Jan 1962 -  1 Jul 1962     Guillaume "Guy" Logiest          (s.a.)

[Flag Batwa]
              Batwa Flag
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: Fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Congo (Kinshasa), Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000 Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 Congo (Kinshasa) and Rwanda border verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the border remains in place.

Party abbreviations: FPR = Front Patriottique Rwandais (Rwanda Patriotic Front, Tutsis); 
MDR = Mouvement Démocratique Républicain (Democratic Republican Movement, Hutus);
MRNDD = Mouvement Républicain National pour Démocratie et le Développement (Republican Movement for National Democracy and for Development, former MRND); Mil = Military;
- Former parties: APROSOMA = Association Pour la Promotion Sociale de la Masse (Accociation for the Social Betterment of the Masses -Hutu); MRND = Mouvement Révolutionnaire National pour le Development (Revolutionary Movement for National Development, Hutu, 1975-1991 only legal party, 1991 renamed MRNDD); PARMEH = Parti du Mouvement de i'Emacpation Hutu (Party for the Hutu Emacipation Movement, 1959-60, renamed MDR-PARMEH 1960); MDR-PARMEH = Mouvement Démocratique Républicain-Parti du Mouvement de i'Emacpation Hutu (Democratic Republican Movement-Party for the Hutu Emancipation Movement, ethnic Hutus est.1960)






  ©2000  Ben Cahoon