RwandaBurundi

RwandaBurundi refers to the historical and geopolitical entity that encompassed the territories of modern-day Rwanda and Burundi. From the late 19th century until 1962, these two nations were administered as a single territory under colonial rule. Initially part of German East Africa, the region was transferred to Belgian administration after World War I under a League of Nations mandate. The mandate designated the area as Ruanda-Urundi, a United Nations trust territory after World War II, still under Belgian stewardship.

The administrative unity of Ruanda-Urundi imposed common policies and infrastructure, but it also maintained and, in some ways, exacerbated the existing social divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups, which were more pronounced in Rwanda than in Burundi. The Belgian colonial administration often favored the Tutsi minority, reinforcing their traditional leadership roles, which contributed to later ethnic tensions and conflicts.

Despite the shared colonial experience, distinct political trajectories began to emerge. In Rwanda, the Hutu majority led a revolution in 1959, leading to the overthrow of the Tutsi monarchy and the establishment of an independent republic in 1962 with a Hutu-led government. In contrast, Burundi maintained its monarchy and achieved independence in 1962 with a Tutsi-dominated government, though it also experienced significant ethnic strife. The legacy of Ruanda-Urundi continues to influence the complex relationship and historical narratives of the two neighboring countries.