Timeline by Nonkanyiso Lunga

1300 : Tutsi Arrival

28nonlun — 2025-06-23 06:27:48 UTC

The Tutsi people arrived in the region of Rwanda. They were cattle herders and gradually settled among the Hutu population who were mostly farmers.

1600 : Tutsi rule established

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:36:11 UTC

The Tutsi became the dominant group, often taking on leadership and ruling roles. By the 1600s, Tutsi clans began to conquer and rule over Hutu communities, forming a hierarchical society.

1800 : combined Rwandan state

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:37:24 UTC

The Tutsi group created a unified state with a military structure in the centre

1885 : colonisation from Germany

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:42:32 UTC

In 1885, Rwanda became a part of German East Africa following the Berlin Conference, which divided up Africa among European powers. While the conference designated Rwanda as a German sphere of influence, actual German administration and colonization didn't begin until later.

1919 : Rwanda Under Belgian Rule

28nonlun — 2025-06-23 06:44:19 UTC

After Germany lost World War 1, Belgium took control of Rwanda as a League of Nations mandate. The Belgians ruled indirectly through the Tutsi elite and made ethnic divisions worse by officially classifying people as Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa on ID cards. Which gave the Tutsis more control.

1926

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:47:04 UTC

Belgiums introduce IDs with racial labels. Labelling people as Tutsi (14%), Hutu (85%), or Twa. Tutsis were favored and used to help rule the country. Belgians promoted the racist belief that Tutsis were “more intelligent” and “closer to Europeans.”

1957 : Manifesto of the Hutus

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:52:01 UTC

Significant political document in the history of Rwanda. It marked a turning point in the nation's ethnic relations and played a central role in the lead-up to the Rwandan Revolution (1959–1961) and the eventual genocide in 1994.

1959 : Hutu Revolution

28nonlun — 2025-06-23 06:52:56 UTC

The Hutu revolution began with an uprising on November 1, 1959, when a rumour of the death of a Hutu leader at the hands of Tutsi perpetrators led groups of Hutu to launch attacks on the Tutsi. Months of violence followed, and many Tutsi were killed or fled the country.

1961 : Political Transformation

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:54:51 UTC

In 1961, Rwanda underwent a major political transformation that marked the end of the monarchy and the beginning of republican rule

1962 : Independence

28nonlun — 2025-06-23 06:55:36 UTC

Rwanda becomes officially independent from Belgium. Grégoire Kayibanda is sworn in as the first President of the Republic of Rwanda. Hutu government excluded Tutsis from power.

1967

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:56:40 UTC

100 000 tutsis killed and several bodies dumped into rivers

1973 : Military coup

28savfra — 2025-06-23 06:59:24 UTC

Juvénal Habyarimana established a one-party state within Rwanda and seized a military coup

1990 : RPF invasion

28nonlun — 2025-06-23 07:01:29 UTC

The RPF invaded north-eastern Rwanda. They suffered a major setback when Rwigyema was killed in action on the second day.

1991

28savfra — 2025-06-23 07:03:52 UTC

Rwanda adopted a multi-party constitution meaning opposition parties were allowed

1993 : Arusha Accords

28savfra — 2025-06-23 07:06:06 UTC

The Arusha Accords (1993) were a set of peace agreements signed on August 4, 1993, in Arusha, Tanzania, aimed at ending the Rwandan Civil War

1994 : The genocide

28nonlun — 2025-06-23 07:06:44 UTC

The genocide was conceived by extremist elements of Rwanda’s majority Hutu population who planned to kill the minority Tutsi Population and anyone who opposed those genocidal intentions. It is estimated that some 200,000 Hutu, spurred on by propaganda from various media outlets, participated in the genocide. More than 800,000 civilians—primarily Tutsi, but also moderate Hutu—were killed during the campaign. As many as 2,000,000 Rwandans fled the country during or immediately after the genocide.

1994 : present: aftermath and reconciliation

28savfra — 2025-06-23 07:08:28 UTC

One of the most profound and closely studied examples of post-genocide recovery in modern history. Following the 1994 genocide, which saw the killing of an estimated 800,000 to 1 million people, mainly Tutsi and moderate Hutu.