Kings
Kigeli IV Rwabugili
He ruled the Kingdom of Rwanda since 1853-1895. He was a Tusti with the birth name of Sezisoni. He was the first King to come into contact with Europeans.
Yuhi V Musinga
He was King of Rwanda since 1896-1931. During his reign, he collaborated with the German government to strengthen his own kingship, by conquering hutu-controlled territories. He was deposed by the colonial masters due to his refusal to obey them and his resistance to Christianity. Musinga was a Tutsi.
Mutara III Rudahigwa
He was born in March 1911 and died on July 25, 1959. He became King of Rwanda on November 16, 1931 until he died. He is said to have introduced socio-political reforms in Rwanda after being baptised under the names of Charles Leon Pierre. He was Tutsi.
Kigeli V Ndahindurwa
He was born on June 29, 1936 in Kamembe (Cyangugu-Rwanda) and became King from July 25 1959 to 28 January 1961. He received his education at Groupe Scolaire Astrida (Today Groupe Scolaire de Butare) in Rwanda and at Nyangezi College in DRC. He was a Tutsi.
Presidents
Dominique Mbonyumutwa
Dominique Mbonyumutwa was born in January 1921 and died in 1986. He served as the first President of the republic of Rwanda since January 28 to October 26, 1961, immediately after the abiolition of the monarchy. He was of Hutu ethnicity.
Grégoire Kayibanda
He was born in Rwanda on May 1, 1924, and died on December 15, 1976. He was the first elected and second President of Rwanda since October 26, 1961-July 5, 1973. He led Rwanda's struggle for Independence from Belgium after defeating Tutsi monarchy, that he replaced with a Republican regime. He was a Hutu.
Juvenal Habyarimana
He was born on March 8, 1937 and died on April 6, 1994. After completing his military studies from Higher Military Academy (Ecole Sperieure Militaire) in Kigali, he occupied various military positions including Army Chief of Staff and Minister of Defense.
He was the third President of Rwanda since July 5, 1973 until he died. He was a Hutu.
Théodore Sindikubwabo
Théodore Sindikubwabo was born in 1928 and died in 1998. He was Minister of Public Works under Kayibanda regime, and become the Speaker of Rwandan Parliament since 1988-1994 when he become the interim President of Rwanda after the assassination of Habyarimana. He ruled from April 9 until July 19, 1994. He was a Hutu.
Pasteur Bizimungu
He was born in 1950 and became President of Rwanda on July 19, 1994 after the Rwandan Genocide. He was forced to resign from the Presidency on March 23, 2000. He is a Hutu.
Paul Kagame
He was born on October 23, 1957 in Rwanda and became a refugee two years later. He became President of Rwanda in 2000 when his predecessor Pasteur Bizimungu resigned. Prior to that, Kagame was the Deputy President and Defense Minister and was regarded as the most powerful figure despite not yet being President. Kagame is a Tutsi.
Maps of Rwanda
Map of Rwanda and its provinces during the regime of Kayibanda and Habyarimana.
Map of Rwanda since 1990.
Map of current Rwanda and its 5 provinces.
Flags of Rwanda
Flag of Rwanda since 1959-1962
Flag of Rwanda since 1962-2001
Current flag of Rwanda