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1916
When Germany invades belgium, at the start of world War 1,the Belgians retaliate in a smaller way in central Africa. Belgian troops move east from the Belgian Congo to occupy
Ruanda-Urundi. After the war the League of Nations confirm the existing state of affairs granting Belgium a mandate to administer of the colony. -
1962
Gregoire Kayibanda, leader of the PARMEHUTU Party, became Rwanda's first elected president, leading a government chosen from the membership of the directly elected unicameral National Assembly. Peaceful negotiation of international problems, social and economic elevation of the masses, and integrated development of rwanda were the ideals of the Kayibanda regime. -
1959
Reforms instituted by the Belgians encouraged the growth of democratic political institutions but were resisted by the Tutsi traditionalists who saw in them a threat to Tutsi rule. An increasingly restive Hutu population sparked a revolt in November 1959, resulting in the overthrow of the Tutsi monarchy. Two years later, the Party of the Hutu Emancipation Movement won the victory in a UN-supervised referendum. -
1995
Refugee camps in Zaire fall under the control of the Hutu militias responsible for the genocide in Rwanda.Extremist Hutu militias and Zairean government forces attack local Zairean Banyamulenge Tutsis; Zaire attempts to force refugees back into Rwanda. UN-appointed international tribunal begins charging and sentencing a number of people responsible for the Hutu-Tutsi atrocities. -
1957
Hutus issue manifesto calling for a change in Rwanda's power structure to give them a voice commensurate with their numbers; Hutu political parties formed. -
1994
In april, Habyarimana and the Burundian president are killed after their plane is shot down over Kigali; RPF launches a major offensive; extremist Hutu militia and elements of the Rwandan military begin the systematic massacre of Tutsis. Within 100 days around 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus are killed; Hutu militias flee to Zaire, taking with them around 2 million Hutu refugees. -
2006-2007
Rwanda breaks off diplomatic ties with France after a French judge issues an international arrest warrant for President Kagame, alleging he was involved in bringing down Habyarimana's plane. Rwanda signs peace agreement with Democratic Republic of Congo. Under the deal DRC will hand over those suspected of involvement in the 1994 genocide to Kigali and to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
