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Rwanda’s History :

Apart from its captivating fertile lands, hills and coffee plantations Rwanda also has a captivating history. Unlike others, rwanda’s past history doesn't have much bloodshed. All that happened was after its independence from Belgium in 1962.

History before independence

The earliest inhabitants in Rwandan history were the Twa pygmies who were gradually outnumbered by the Hutus. It was around the 14th century that the Tutsis began migrating into the country and soon gained dominance over the Hutus, establishing several states. By the end of the 18th century, the Tutsis were ruling over a predominantly Hutu population, in what is now the present-day Rwanda. Mutara II and Kigeri IV were the two most popular Hutu kings under whom Rwanda reached the heights of its power.

However, by the late 19th century, Rwanda became a part of German East Africa without any resistance. Nonetheless, it was not until 1907, that an administrative officer was assigned to Rwanda. Until then there was practically no economic development initiated in the country. Consequently, Belgium forces overtook the Germans during the First World War and made it a part of Belgian League of Nations. The traditional social structure of Rwanda was surprisingly not altered; but a lot of Christian missionary was taken up.

History after independence

Rwanda attained its independence in the year 1962. from 1962 till 1994 they had two presidents. Gregoire Kayibanda was the first president (1962 - 1973), followed by Juvenal Habyarimana (1973 - 1994). The latter, according to many was a ruthless dictator, who could not find an amicable the calls for democracy and the long-running problem of Rwandan Tutsi refugees.

After his assassination in the year 1994, the country broke into a civil war and genocide that killed a million people including women, children. The people belonged to both Tutsi and Hutu communities. It was social anarchy and complete breakdown of the system.