Rwanda, a country in East Africa, has a complex past as a colony of European nations. Here's an explanation of Rwanda's history in relation to European colonialism:
1. **German Colonization**: In the late 19th century, Rwanda was colonized by Germany. The Germans ruled Rwanda from the 1880s until the end of World War I in 1918 when Germany lost control of the territory.
2. **Belgian Rule**: After World War I, Rwanda came under Belgian rule as part of the League of Nations mandate. The Belgians ruled Rwanda until the country gained independence in 1962.
3. **Colonial Legacy**: The colonial period had a lasting impact on Rwanda. The Belgians favored the Tutsi ethnic group over the Hutu majority, introducing identity cards that specified ethnic group, which intensified divisions in Rwandan society.
4. **Ethnic Tensions**: The colonial legacy of favoring the Tutsis created tensions between the Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups, which eventually escalated into violence and culminated in the Rwandan Genocide of 1994.
5. **Independence**: Rwanda gained independence from Belgium in 1962, but the ethnic divisions and inequalities exacerbated during the colonial period continued to influence Rwandan society, leading to political instability and conflict.
In summary, Rwanda's history as a colony of European nations, first under German and then Belgian rule, played a significant role in shaping the ethnic tensions and divisions that ultimately led to the tragic events of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994.
