Germany in Rwanda

The first know contact between Rwanda and a European nation was with Germany in 1894. Germany initially ventured into Rwanda because they controlled much of east Africa at the time. A man by the name of Count Von Gotzen visited King Rwabugiri who was the King of Rwanda at the current time. Just a year after Von Gotzen visited the King, Rwabugiri died. After this happened, Rwanda as a nation was a little bit up in the air and the Germans took over the country and had control of Rwanda until the start of the first World War in 1914. As a reaction to the Germans invading Belgium at the start of WW1, Belgium decided to take Rwanda out of the hands of the Germans.

 At the time, Belgium was occupying the Belgium Congo right next to Rwanda. Up until 1924, the Belgians were in control of Rwanda and were granted official authority of Rwanda by the League of Nations after WW1. The Belgians remained in control of Rwanda until 1962. The Belgians had a huge impact on the nation of Rwanda. The largest impact was the distinction they made between the Tutsi and Hutu people. They favored the Tutsi people, which made up 85% of the people in Rwanda, as the chosen group to lead the country. Down the road the favoritism shown toward the Tutsi people would lead to the civil war and the genocide that took place in Rwanda in 1994. The Belgians have truly had a lasting impact on the country of Rwanda, as they are still recovering from all the division that has taken place in years past. They are however on the road to recovery and are doing much better as a nation.