Resource 3: World War I in Rwanda

 Background information / subject knowledge for teacher

World War I did not only take place in Europe but also in colonised countries of Africa and Asia. Rwanda, which was a German Protectorate from the end of the 19^th century, became a battlefield between Germans and Belgians. Belgium wished to stay neutral as it was in Europe since 1830 because it was not prepared to be engaged in a war. It feared to lose its prestige in Africa. Germany also feared to start fighting in Africa as most of its colonies were scattered colonies and therefore not easy to defend once encircled by enemies.

Causes of the conflict

The conflict was the result of serious tensions between European countries since the 19^th century. As some of these countries had colonies in Africa and Asia, the conflict extended there as well. The involvement of the Rwandan royal court in the war was due to a request from the Germans. Most combatants, called Indugaruga, came from Indengabaganizi and Iziruguru troops. Moreover, King Yuhi V Musinga had heard that the Belgians had confiscated a lot of cattle and was hoping to regain lost territory of Bufumbira, Rucuro, Bwishya and the whole IjwiIsland. Since the 19^th century, Belgium had been eager to have a territory from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. It entered in the conflict to have a region to exchange at the end of the war, in order to have a large opening on the Atlantic Ocean.

Sequence of events

The beginning of hostilities was when a German officer from Kigoma came to the other border of TanganyikaLake to find out whether Belgian intentions related to war or peace. He was arrested and he interpreted this as a provocative reaction, which he reported when he escaped. Belgians troops did not attack immediately. It took a year of preparation, as some of them had gone to help Allies in other African countries.

When the Belgians attacked in December 1915, German forces were divided into three groups. The first one, commanded by Captain Wintgens, protected the northeast of KivuLake. The second, led by Major von Langen, had to defend RusiziRiver and had its branches at Usumbura, Kigoma and Ujiji. The last one, led by Captain Godovius, had to stop British troops from entering from Ugandan territory. These German troops had the advantage of mastery of the region.

The Belgian troops were commanded in the north by Colonel Molitor and fought face-to-face with Wintgens’ troops. In the south, there was Lieutenant-Colonel Olsen. Belgian troops attacked not only from Belgian Congo but also crossed through Ugandan territory to surprise the Germans in Kigali by 9 May 1916. This capture of Kigali made the situation serious for the Germans as Kigali was their focal point for communication. Wintgens left Bugoyi Region to avoid being encircled by Belgians and came to Nyanza, the royal capital. This was occupied by Belgian troops on 19 May 1916. The Germans had left two white flags raised at the palace in order not to be attacked by the Belgians. The Germans withdrew through the south of Rwanda and their departure surprised Rwandans in general and King Yuhi Musinga in particular. The king lost his collaborators and defenders of his regime against the rebellions in the northern regions of Rwanda.

Consequences of the war

During this crisis, Rwanda was affected by the Rumanura famine, which started in Bugoyi. During the war, troops stayed for a few years in this region and the population was obliged to offer its crops to German troops. It had also to work for them. As the region was the breadbasket of Rwanda, the greater part of the country was also affected. During this time, a lot of rain fell, further hampering food production and thereby increasing hunger. Nyundo Mission estimated that around 20,000 people had died out of the 100,000 people who lived there. Others left the region to escape from working for the German army. During their withdrawal, German troops destroyed the crops. As Belgian troops were many in number, large numbers of cows were slaughtered for meat. Some of the people recruited to carry Belgian luggage died due to tiredness and hunger.

Missionary activity had virtually ceased by the beginning of 1916. The peasants were mobilised for portage. At Rwaza, since the White Fathers could no longer pay teachers, the schools emptied. Many catechists continued working on half pay and numbers of children attending catechism fell from 119 to 82.

After the departure of the Germans, the Catholic stations again became the principal actors in the colonial system. The Belgian commanders could turn to no one but to the White Fathers for advice.After World War I, the Germans were replaced by the Belgians as the colonial masters of Rwanda. Belgium expected to stay in a good relationship with the Allies. This became complicated when Britain wanted to take Belgian-conquered territories. Belgium was not invited to influence directly the Versailles Treaty which ended World War I, but her Foreign Minister (Orts) and the British foreign minister (Milner) decided on the fate of Rwanda. The country lost its eastern part (Gisaka and Mubali) between 1919 and 1923, which was added to British territories.

The Belgian colonial period was characterised by change in Rwanda in political, economic, social and cultural domains.

Taken from: F.Nahimana: Le blanc est arrivé, le roi est parti. Une facette de l’histoire du Rwanda contemporain (1894-1931), Kigali, 1987.

B.Paternostre de la Mairieu: Le Rwanda. Son effort de développement, antécédents historiques et conquête de la révolution rwandaise, 2eme édition, Kigali, Editions Rwandaises, Bruxelles, Editions de Boeck, 1983.