Rwanda Colonial Records

German Colonization (1884-1916)
In 1884, Germany established the German East Africa Colony in the area of present-day Rwanda.

Belgian Colonization (1916-1962)
Belgium invaded Rwanda in 1916. The defeat of the German Empire in World War One occurred shortly afterwards, and Rwanda then became a part of the Belgian Colonial Empire as mandated by the League of Nations, now known as the United Nations. Rwanda gained its independence from Belgium in 1962.