Kingdom of Rwanda
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Kingdom of Banyarwanda (also known as the Kingdom of Rwanda) was founded in the 15th century by a pastoral tribe, the Tutsi, occupying approximately the territory controlled by the modern state of Rwanda, before being gradually subdued by European colonial interests starting in 1890.
Contents |
[edit] Colonization
From a European perspective, the Banyarwanda dynasty ceased to be a legal entity with the signing of the Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty (also known as the Anglo-German Agreement of 1890), which formalized the German Empire's claims to the territories that would comprise its German East Africa colony, or Deutsch-Ostafrika. European agents first started arriving in 1894, and by 1897 a nominal administration was imposed; however it was stil not fully integrated into the apparatus the German East Africa colony by the time these territories were seized by Belgian forces in 1916.
The Treaty of Versailles saw a formal renunciation of German claims to its African possessions, and the transfer of its East African territories into Belgian and British hands. By 1924 the Belgians would obtain international recognition for their control over the former Banyarwanda and Burundi kingdoms in the form of a Class B League of Nations Mandate known as Ruanda-Urundi. As was common elsewhere in Africa during the era of European domination, the Belgians relied heavily on the existing monarchic structures as proxies through which some degree of control could be exercised, but over time they would be gradually coopted, with the kings losing real power and becoming ceremonial figureheads.
The Ruanda-Urundi Mandate became a United Nations Trust Territory by the same name after WWII, which existed until Rwanda and Burundi were created as separate independent states in 1962.
[edit] The Monarchy after Rwandan Independence
In 1961, following a referendum in which the majority (the Hutu), voted to abolish the monarchy, a republic came into being. That year, the last mwami (king) Kigeri V Ndahindurwa was deposed and went into exile.
The 1994 genocide left the country deeply traumatised, and has given rise to renewed calls for a restoration of a constitutional monarchy, as a unifying symbol for both Hutus and Tutsis. HM King Kigeri V resides at the moment in Washington DC, has however voiced his wish to return to his ancestral homeland. In 1999 President Paul Kagame stated that the King may return as a private citizen, but any efforts to restore him to the throne will be crushed.
[edit] See also
- for further history of Rwanda see History of Rwanda.
- for the Royal Lineage of the Banyarwanda dynasty (Mwami/s of Rwanda) see List of Kings of Rwanda.
