German East Africa Imperialism

By sscholes

  • Before Imperialism

    Before Imperialism
    Before the Europeans arrived in Rwanda, it was ruled by a Tutsi king. At this time, the area was a protectorate. Tutsi King Kigeri established a unified state with a centralized military structure.

  • Germans Arrive

    Germans Arrive
    The Germans arrived in what was to become Rwanda in 1894 and began to intensify local divisions to strengthen their own control. They ruled through the Tutsi king and brought formerly independent Hutu areas under the central administration.

  • Belgian forces occupy Rwanda

    Belgian forces occupy Rwanda
    The Belgians continued to rule under the Tutsi King. They removed a king from office who had obstucted their plans and chose a new king to replace him.

  • The League of Nations

    The League of Nations
    The League of Nations passed a resolution granting Belgium the right to govern Rwanda and its southern neighbor Burundi, as the territory of Ruanda-Urundi. The resolution taken by the League of Nations followed actions by small European forces as they fought for control of the areas of Rwanda.

  • Independence

    Independence
    The Belgian authorities were becoming concerned with the rise of radical nationalist sentiments within the middle class. Shortly after, a rebellion of Hutu farmers broke out so the colonialists granted independence and allowed free elections. George Kayibanda became president which caused many Tutsis to leave the country becaus he was a Hutu.

  • Genocide

    Genocide
    The genocide began when the Rwandan President was killed when his plane was shot down above the Kigali airport. 800,000 Rwandans were then killed within 100 days. A Tutsi-led rebel movement captured the capital and two million Hutus fled to Zaire.

  • Rwandan Troops Invade

    Rwandan Troops Invade
    The Rwandan troops invaded Hutu militia-dominated camps to try and bring home the refugees who fled in the genocide.

  • Peace Deal

    Peace Deal
    DR Congo signs a peace deal in which Rwanda will pull out troops from DR Congo and DR Congo will help disarm Rwandan Hutu gunmen who were blamed for killing Tutsi people in the Genocide.

  • Prisoner Release

    Prisoner Release
    The Rwandan government began to release some 36,000 prisoners who have confessed to their involvement in the genocide.