Grégoire KayibandaGrégoire Kayibanda (1 May 1924 – 15 December 1976) was a Rwandan politician, revolutionary and military dictator who was the first President of Rwanda from 1962 to 1973. An ethnic Hutu, he was a pioneer of the Rwandan Revolution and led Rwanda's struggle for independence from Belgium, replacing the Tutsi monarchy with the First Rwandese Republic.
Chamber of Deputies (Rwanda)The Chamber of Deputies (Kinyarwanda: Umutwe w'Abadepite; French: Chambre des Députés) is the lower house of the bicameralnational legislature of Rwanda. It was created under the new Constitution adopted by referendum in 2003. CompositionThe Chamber is made up of 80 deputies.
RwandaFlag EmblemMotto: Ubumwe, Umurimo, Gukunda Igihugu(Kinyarwanda)Unity, Work, Patriotism(English)Unité, Travail, Patriotisme(French)Umoja, Kazi, Uzalendo(Swahili)Anthem: "Rwanda nziza"(English: "Beautiful Rwanda")Show globeShow map of AfricaCapitaland largest cityKigali1°56′38″S30°3′34″E / 1.94389°S 30.05944°E / -1.94389; 30.05944Official languagesKinyarwandaEnglishFrenchSwahiliNational languageKinyarwandaWorking languageEnglishEthnic groups (1994)100% Banyarwanda85% Hutu14% Tutsi1% TwaReligion 93.8% Christianity3.0% no religion2.2% Islam1.0% otherDemonymsRwandanRwandeseGovernmentUnitary semi-presidential republic under an authoritariandictatorship• PresidentPaul Kagame• Prime MinisterJustin Nsengiyumva• Speaker of the Chamber of DeputiesGertrude KazarwaLegislatureParliament• Upper houseSenate• Lower houseChamber of DeputiesFormation• Kingdom of Rwanda15th century• Part of German East Africa1897–1916• Part of Ruanda-Urundi1916–1962• Rwandan Revolution1959–1961• Republic declared28 January 1961• Independence from Belgium1 July 1962• Admitted to the UN18 September 1962• Current constitution26 May 2003Area • Total26,338 km (10,169 sq mi) (144th)• Water (%)6.3Population• 2026 estimate 14,418,145 (76th)• 2022 census13,206,731• Density578/km (1,497.0/sq mi) (21st)GDP(PPP)2026 estimate• Total$65.461 billion (129th)• Per capita$4,523 (159th)GDP(nominal)2026 estimate• Total$17.336 billion (137th)• Per capita$1,198 (174th)Gini(2023) 39.4medium inequalityHDI(2023) 0.578medium (159th)CurrencyRwandan franc (RWF)Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)Date formatdd/mm/yyyy (AD)Calling code+250ISO 3166 codeRWInternet TLD.rwWebsitewww.gov.rwRwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in East Africa.BurgomasterBurgomaster (alternatively spelled burgermeister, lit.'master of the town/borough/fortress/citizens') is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or executive of a city or town. The name in English was derived from the Dutchburgemeester.
Rwandan RevolutionThe Rwandan Revolution, also known as the Hutu Revolution, Social Revolution, or Wind of Destruction (Kinyarwanda: muyaga), was a period of ethnic violence in Rwanda from 1959 to 1961 between the Hutu and the Tutsi, two of the three ethnic groups in Rwanda. The revolution saw the country transition from a Tutsi monarchy under Belgian colonial authority to an independent Hutu-dominated republic.TutsiThe Tutsi ( TUUT-see), also called Watusi, Watutsi or Abatutsi (Kinyarwanda pronunciation: [ɑ.βɑ.tuː.t͡si]), are an ethnic group established primarily in Rwanda and Burundi. They are a Bantu-speaking people and the second-largest of three main ethnic groups in Rwanda and Burundi, the other two being the Hutu and Twa. Historically, the Tutsi were pastoralists and filled the ranks of the warrior caste.
French languageFrench (français or langue française) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. Like all other Romance languages, French and its closest relatives—the langues d'oïl, historically spoken in northern France and southern Belgium—descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire. It was influenced by native Celtic languages of Northern Roman Gaul and by the GermanicFrankish language of the post-Roman Frankish invaders.
List of kings of RwandaThis article contains a list of kings of Rwanda. The Kingdom of Rwanda was ruled by sovereigns titled mwami (plural abami), and was one of the oldest and the most centralized kingdoms in the history of Central and East Africa. Its state and affairs before King Gihanga I are largely unconfirmed and highly shrouded in mythical tales.HutuThe Hutu (), also known as the Abahutu, are a Bantu ethnic group native to the African Great Lakes region. They primarily live in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they form one of the principal ethnic groups alongside the Tutsi and the Great Lakes Twa.
1961 Rwandan monarchy referendumIf so, do you want Kigeli V to remain Mwami (King) of Rwanda?A referendum on the monarchy was held in Rwanda on 25 September 1961, concurrent with parliamentary elections. The referendum asked two questions: whether the monarchy should be retained after independence the following year, and whether the incumbent, Kigeli V, should remain King. The result was a "no" to both questions from 80% of voters, with a 95% turnout. King Kigeli claimed the vote had been rigged.
1961 Rwandan parliamentary electionParliamentary elections were held in Rwanda on 25 September 1961 alongside a referendum on the country's monarchy. The result was a victory for Parmehutu, which won 35 of the 44 seats in the Legislative Assembly. Voter turnout was 96%. They were the last multiparty elections held in Rwanda until 2003.
Kigeli V NdahindurwaKigeli V Ndahindurwa (born Jean-Baptiste Ndahindurwa; 29 June 1936 – 16 October 2016) was the last ruling King (Mwami) of Rwanda, from 28 July 1959 until the end of the UN-mandate with Belgian administration and the declaration of an independent Republic of Rwanda 1 July 1962. On 25 September 1961, a referendum voted for the abolition of the Rwandan monarchy following the Rwandan Revolution.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.