The Berlin Conference, which took place from November 15, 1884, to February 26, 1885, marked a pivotal moment in this transformation. As European nations scrambled to divide Africa among themselves, Rwanda, like many of its neighbors, was caught in the web of imperialism.
It was during this conference that Rwanda's fate was sealed on November 15, 1884, with the country being placed under German control.
The effects of this decision were far-reaching. Rwanda had never experienced massacres between its inhabitants before the German, and then Belgian colonization, which following the Berlin Conference from, led to the signing of the General Act for the Partition of Africa among Western powers.
Rwanda was assigned to the German zone. Then, Germany, England, and Belgium agreed to reduce Rwanda's borders, annexing Rwandan territories to the Belgian Congo and Uganda.
The spark of colonization
The Berlin Conference, hosted by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck of Germany, was convened with one purpose: to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa.
The conference saw representatives from 14 European powers, including Britain, France, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Italy, come together to formalize their claims to African territories.
The conference was governed by what came to be known as the Berlin Act (1885), a document that set the rules for colonization. It called for European powers to notify each other of their territorial claims and to establish effective occupation. Africa, which had long been home to thriving civilizations, was now a pawn in European geopolitics.
Rwanda, along with Burundi, was assigned to Germany as part of the larger German East Africa protectorate, which also included present-day Tanzania. This marked the beginning of a dramatic shift in the region's trajectory.
The effects of the Berlin Conference were far-reaching, especially in Rwanda. The decision to place Rwanda under German rule was not simply a matter of territorial control; it marked the beginning of a colonial era that would fundamentally alter the country's social, economic, and political structures.
During this time, Rwanda was ruled under the reign of King Kigeli IV Rwabugiri, who was placed in a position of limited authority by the Germans.
His power was undermined by the colonial administration, which took full control over the economy and governance. The imposition of European rule created tension between the local monarchy and the colonial powers.
The collapse of German control
While Germany's rule over Rwanda was relatively short-lived, it had significant lasting effects on the country. World War I (1914-1918) played a key role in shifting Rwanda's colonial allegiance. In 1916, as Germany was embroiled in the war in Europe, Belgian forces took over the German colonies in Africa, including Rwanda.
According to the book 'The History of Rwanda' published by the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission cyasohowe in 2016, written under the supervision of Paul Rutayisire and Déo Byanafashe, the last German soldiers left Kigali by May 5, 1916.
After the war, as indicated by the United Nations, the League of Nations granted Belgium a mandate over the territory of Rwanda, then called Ruanda-Urundi, on October 20, 1924, making them Belgian colonies.
The change from German to Belgian control marked a new chapter in Rwanda's colonial history. On January 1, 1932, Belgium introduced ethnic identity cards, where the colonial administration deepened its involvement in Rwanda's social structures, solidifying the divide between the Tutsi and Hutu populations.
Rwanda's path to independence
Rwanda's colonial history, shaped first by Germany and later by Belgium, left enduring scars on the nation. Beginning in 1917, Belgium implemented sweeping reforms to Rwanda's customary institutions, introducing labor legislation that included harsh corporal punishments.
During this period, the racist political party PARMEHUTU emerged, rising to power through a well-coordinated massacre of Tutsi people starting on November 2, 1959.
To secure PARMEHUTU's dominance, Belgium sent Colonel Guy Logiest to Rwanda as Special Military Resident, granting him full administrative authority. Once Belgium was confident that PARMEHUTU had consolidated its hold on the political landscape, it granted Rwanda independence in July 1962. However, independence brought neither peace nor stability.
Between 1959 and 1962, the country endured a series of unpunished massacres, including the killing of more than 2,000 Tutsi in Byumba Prefecture in March 1962.
In December 1963, a more systematic genocide targeting the Tutsi was orchestrated with Belgium's support. Some diplomats, missionaries, international cooperation staff, as well as the French, Belgian, and British press, along with the Vatican, described these killings as genocide.
The deep social and political rifts created by the colonial system continued to plague the country, ultimately culminating in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
This tragic chapter was brought to an end by the intervention of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA).
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/the-day-rwanda-was-assigned-to-germany-at-the-berlin-conference
