◆ History · Amateka · 1961–2024 in votes
From the Mwami
to the ballot.
A kingdom, then German and Belgian rule; independence in 1962; two republics under single parties; war from 1990 and, in 1994, the Genocide against the Tutsi, in which the United Nations estimates that more than one million people were killed; then a transition, community justice and the 2003 Constitution. 33 dated entries, each with its source — the United Nations first, official texts next, secondary sources labelled as such.
Timeline by era
Seven eras,
one country.
The kingdom
-
A centralised kingdom
Before colonial rule Rwanda was a kingdom ruled by a Mwami (king), with chiefs over land, cattle and armies; the kingdom expanded in the 19th century under Mwami Kigeli IV Rwabugiri (r. c. 1853–1895).
German and Belgian rule
-
German East Africa
Rwanda was assigned to the German sphere in Africa in the 1880s–1890; the first German military posts and missions followed from 1897, ruling indirectly through the Mwami.
Wikipedia — History of Rwanda (secondary) ↗ · UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
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Belgian occupation
Belgian forces from the Congo took Rwanda during the First World War. The UN notes that Germany “lost possession of Rwanda during the First World War” and the territory “was then placed under Belgian administration”.
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
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League of Nations mandate
Ruanda-Urundi became a League of Nations mandate under Belgium (confirmed by Belgian law in 1924). After 1946 it was a United Nations trust territory, still administered by Belgium.
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Mwami Musinga deposed
The Belgian administration deposed Mwami Yuhi V Musinga and installed his son Mutara III Rudahigwa. In 1933–34 a Belgian census issued identity cards recording each person as Hutu, Tutsi or Twa.
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The 1959 violence
“In November 1959, a violent incident sparked a Hutu uprising in which hundreds of Tutsi were killed” (UN). Tens of thousands fled to neighbouring countries.
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
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Gitarama: the monarchy abolished
Communal councillors meeting at Gitarama proclaimed a republic, with Dominique Mbonyumutwa as acting president and Grégoire Kayibanda (Parmehutu) as prime minister. A UN-supervised referendum on 25 September 1961 confirmed the end of the monarchy.
First Republic
-
Independence
Rwanda became independent with Grégoire Kayibanda as president. The UN records that by 1962 “120,000 people, primarily Tutsis, had taken refuge in neighboring states”.
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
Second Republic
-
Habyarimana takes power
Major General Juvénal Habyarimana deposed Kayibanda in a coup. In 1975 he founded the MRND, which the 1978 constitution made the single legal party.
-
The RPF war
“On 1 October 1990, the RPF launched a major attack on Rwanda from Uganda with a force of 7,000 fighters” (UN). The Rwandan Patriotic Front was formed largely by Tutsi refugees.
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
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Multiparty constitution
A new constitution legalised opposition parties; multiparty coalition governments with prime ministers from 1991 followed.
-
Arusha Accords
The government and the RPF signed the Arusha peace agreements on power-sharing, which the UN says “appeared to have brought an end to the conflict”. The UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) was set up to support them.
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
1994: the Genocide against the Tutsi
-
The presidential plane is shot down
“On 6 April 1994, the deaths of the Presidents of Burundi and Rwanda in a plane crash” set off the killings (UN).
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
-
The Genocide against the Tutsi
Over about one hundred days, Tutsi and Hutu and others who opposed the killing were murdered; the UN estimates that “more than one million people” perished. Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana and ten Belgian peacekeepers protecting her were killed on 7 April. The UN General Assembly marks 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (resolution 58/234 of 2003; title amended by decision 72/550 of 26 January 2018). In Rwanda the commemoration is Kwibuka.
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗ · UN General Assembly decision 72/550 (26 Jan 2018): International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (UN) ↗ · UN — International Day of Reflection (7 April) (UN) ↗
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The killings end
The UN records that killings continued in some areas “until 4 July 1994 when the RPF took military control of the entire territory of Rwanda”. Rwanda marks 4 July as Liberation Day (Kwibohora).
UN Outreach Programme on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi — historical background (UN) ↗
Transition
-
Government of National Unity
A broad-based transitional government was sworn in under the Arusha framework, with Pasteur Bizimungu (RPF) as president, Paul Kagame as vice-president and Faustin Twagiramungu (MDR) as prime minister.
Wikipedia — List of presidents of Rwanda (secondary) ↗ · Wikipedia — List of prime ministers of Rwanda (secondary) ↗
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International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
The Security Council created the ICTR in Arusha to prosecute those responsible for genocide and other serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in 1994. It closed on 31 December 2015.
UN Security Council resolution 955 (1994): establishing the ICTR (UN) ↗ · UN Outreach Programme — backgrounder: the justice and reconciliation process (2014) (UN) ↗
-
Kagame becomes president
After Bizimungu resigned on 23 March 2000, the Transitional National Assembly elected Paul Kagame president; he was sworn in on 22 April 2000.
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Gacaca courts
Community courts based on a traditional model began a pilot phase in 2002 and were extended nationwide in 2005. Judges elected by their communities tried genocide cases other than planning; the UN counts more than 12,000 courts and more than 1.2 million cases. They officially closed on 4 May 2012 (closing ceremony 18 June 2012).
UN Outreach Programme — backgrounder: the justice and reconciliation process (2014) (UN) ↗ · Wikipedia — Gacaca court (secondary) ↗
Under the 2003 Constitution
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Constitution adopted by referendum
Voters approved a new constitution with a seven-year presidential term renewable once, a bicameral Parliament, a multiparty system with power-sharing rules, and at least 30% women in decision-making organs.
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗ · Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015, Official Gazette n° Special of 24/12/2015 (official) ↗
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First multiparty presidential election
Paul Kagame was elected with 95.1% of the vote (official result). Parliamentary elections in September–October 2003 gave women 48.8% of the Chamber of Deputies (39 of 80).
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Territorial reform
Twelve provinces and 106 districts were merged into four provinces, the City of Kigali and 30 districts, the frame for today's decentralised government. Imihigo performance contracts between the President and district mayors were introduced the same year.
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Joins the East African Community
Rwanda became a partner state of the EAC, alongside Burundi.
East African Community — Rwanda (joined 1 July 2007) (official) ↗
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A women's majority in Parliament
The 2008 Chamber of Deputies was the first national legislature in the world with a majority of women (45 of 80, 56.25%).
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Joins the Commonwealth
Rwanda was admitted to the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth — Rwanda (member since 29 November 2009) (official) ↗
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Presidential election
Paul Kagame was re-elected with 93.1% of the vote (official result).
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Parliamentary election
The RPF-led coalition won a majority of the 53 directly elected seats; women took 51 of 80 seats.
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Constitutional referendum
Voters approved a revised constitution (98.3% yes, official result). Article 101 sets a five-year presidential term renewable once; transitional Article 172 kept the incumbent's term and added one further seven-year term (2017–2024) before Article 101 applies. The Senate term became five years, renewable once.
Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda of 2003 revised in 2015, Official Gazette n° Special of 24/12/2015 (official) ↗ · Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Kiswahili becomes an official language
Organic Law N° 02/2017/OL, made under the constitution's article on official languages, added Kiswahili to Kinyarwanda, English and French (published in Official Gazette n° 18 of 1 May 2017).
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Presidential election
Paul Kagame was re-elected for the seven-year term with 98.8% of the vote (official result), against Frank Habineza (DGPR) and Philippe Mpayimana (independent).
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Parliamentary election
The DGPR and PS-Imberakuri entered the Chamber of Deputies for the first time, with two seats each.
Wikipedia — Elections in Rwanda (secondary; figures as reported by the NEC) ↗
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Constitution revised
A revision published on 4 August 2023 put the presidential and Chamber of Deputies elections on the same day (Article 75(4)) and kept the five-year, renewable-once presidential term.
Constitution of the Republic of Rwanda, Official Gazette n° Special of 04/08/2023 (official) ↗
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Joint presidential and parliamentary election
Diaspora voters cast ballots on 14 July, voters at home on 15 July, and the women's, youth and disability colleges on 16 July. Paul Kagame was re-elected with 99.2% of the vote (official result); women hold 51 of the 80 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (63.75%).
AU–COMESA Election Observation Mission, preliminary statement, Kigali, 17 July 2024 (official) ↗ · Parliament of Rwanda — 63.75% of Rwanda's Parliament is women (official) ↗ · National Electoral Commission — election results (official) ↗
7 April · Kwibuka
Remembrance.
The United Nations General Assembly observes 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. The day was established in 2003 (resolution 58/234) and given this title by decision 72/550 of 26 January 2018. In Rwanda the national commemoration, Kwibuka (“to remember”), begins on 7 April.
Justice followed on three tracks: the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha (Security Council resolution 955 of 1994, closed in 2015), Rwanda's national courts, and the community-based Gacaca courts, which the UN records heard more than 1.2 million cases before closing in 2012.
UN — International Day of Reflection (7 April) ↗ · UN Outreach Programme — backgrounder: the justice and reconciliation process (2014) ↗
Every national vote · 24 from 1961 to 2024
Sixty years
of national votes.
Every national election and referendum since the UN-supervised votes of 1961. From 1965 to 1988 each presidential and legislative vote had a single candidate or a single party; from 1988 to 2003 there were none. Since 2003 the official results have given the winning presidential candidate more than 93% of valid votes. How international observers assess the elections is set out on the elections page.
- Turnout
- Winner, presidential
- Largest list, legislative
- Winning side, referendum
- Hollow: secondary source
| Date | Vote | Registered | Turnout | Winner | Share | Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 September 1961 | Legislative | 1,337,096 | 95.6% | PARMEHUTU | 77.6% | secondary |
| 25 September 1961 | Referendum | 1,337,342 | 95.3% | No | 79.9% | secondary |
| 3 October 1965 | Legislative | 1,440,440 | 87.5% | MDR-PARMEHUTU | 100.0% | secondary |
| 3 October 1965 | Presidential | 1,440,440 | 87.6% | Grégoire Kayibanda | 100.0% | secondary |
| 28 September 1969 | Legislative | 1,578,704 | 90.9% | MDR-PARMEHUTU | 100.0% | secondary |
| 28 September 1969 | Presidential | 1,578,704 | 90.9% | Grégoire Kayibanda | 100.0% | secondary |
| 17 December 1978 | Referendum | 2,091,688 | — | Yes | 89.1% | secondary |
| 24 December 1978 | Presidential | — | — | Juvénal Habyarimana | 99.0% | secondary |
| 28 December 1981 | Legislative | 2,244,547 | 96.5% | MRND | 100.0% | secondary |
| 19 December 1983 | Presidential | — | — | Juvénal Habyarimana | 100.0% | secondary |
| 26 December 1983 | Legislative | 2,433,265 | — | MRND | 100.0% | secondary |
| 19 December 1988 | Presidential | — | — | Juvénal Habyarimana | 100.0% | secondary |
| 26 December 1988 | Legislative | 2,740,920 | 98.5% | MRND | 100.0% | secondary |
| 26 May 2003 | Referendum | 3,863,965 | 89.9% | Yes | 93.4% | secondary |
| 25 August 2003 | Presidential | 3,948,749 | 96.6% | Paul Kagame | 95.1% | secondary |
| 29 September 2003 | Legislative | 3,958,058 | 96.5% | RPF-led coalition | 73.8% | secondary |
| 15 September 2008 | Legislative | 4,769,228 | 98.5% | RPF-led coalition | 78.8% | official (NEC) |
| 9 August 2010 | Presidential | 5,178,492 | 97.5% | Paul Kagame | 93.1% | secondary |
| 16 September 2013 | Legislative | 5,953,531 | 98.8% | RPF-led coalition | 76.2% | official (NEC) |
| 18 December 2015 | Referendum | 6,392,867 | 98.0% | Yes | 98.3% | official (NEC) |
| 4 August 2017 | Presidential | 6,897,076 | 98.2% | Paul Kagame | 98.8% | official (NEC) |
| 3 September 2018 | Legislative | 7,172,612 | 93.0% | RPF-led coalition | 74.0% | official (NEC) |
| 15 July 2024 | Legislative | 9,071,157 | 98.2% | RPF-led coalition | 68.8% | official (NEC) |
| 15 July 2024 | Presidential | 9,071,157 | 98.2% | Paul Kagame | 99.2% | official (NEC) |
- No national vote in 1962: Rwanda became independent on 1 July 1962; Grégoire Kayibanda had been elected President by the Legislative Assembly on 26 Oct 1961.
- 1965: the African Elections Database dates the elections 3 Oct 1965, Wikipedia 10 Mar 1965; unresolved, we show 3 Oct.
- 1969: 28 Sep (AED, IPU) vs 29 Sep (Wikipedia); we show 28 Sep.
- 1994–2003: no national elections; the Transitional National Assembly (from Nov 1994, after the Genocide against the Tutsi) was designated under the Arusha Accords and the Declaration of the RPF; it elected Paul Kagame President on 17 Apr 2000.
- 2010: Wikipedia's 5,718,492 registered voters is a digit transposition of 5,178,492 (AED; NEC via New Times: turnout 97.51%).
- 2015 referendum: NEC final figures (Yes 6,143,060, 98.3%) are used; the provisional ones circulated widely are slightly higher.
- Vote counts for the 1978, 1983 and 1988 presidential elections, and party votes for 2013, were not found; only percentages.
- 2003, 2010 and 2013 figures rest on secondary sources (no NEC primary document found online).
“Official” means at least one figure for that vote comes from an NEC document; otherwise the figures come from the African Elections Database, the IPU's Parline archive or Wikipedia. Referendum shares are of valid votes: in 1961 voters were asked whether to keep the monarchy, and “No” won. Turnout is voters over registered electors.
Women in the Chamber of Deputies
A majority
of women.
Women held 39 of 80 seats (48.8%) in the first Chamber elected under the 2003 Constitution, which reserves 24 seats for women and requires at least 30% women in every decision-making body. In the Inter-Parliamentary Union's world classification of 30 November 2003 that put Rwanda first, ahead of Sweden. In 2008 the Chamber became the first national parliament in the world with a majority of women (45 of 80); after the 2024 election women hold 51 of 80 seats (63.75%).
Before 2003 the shares are of the single-party National Development Council (1981–1988) and of the Transitional National Assembly, whose members were designated, not elected (25.7% women in 2000–2002, IPU).
- NEC document
- Secondary (IPU archive, AED, Wikipedia)
- Transitional National Assembly, designated 1994–2003
Heads of state · 6
Presidents.
- 1961 Dominique Mbonyumutwa Parmehutu · Acting, after Gitarama
- 1961–1973 Grégoire Kayibanda Parmehutu
- 1973–1994 Juvénal Habyarimana MRND · Killed when his plane was shot down
- 1994 Théodore Sindikubwabo MRND · Interim government during the genocide
- 1994–2000 Pasteur Bizimungu RPF · Resigned
- since 2000 Paul Kagame RPF · Acting from 24 March, elected by the Transitional National Assembly 17 April and sworn in 22 April 2000; elected 2003, 2010, 2017, 2024
Prime ministers · 12
Prime ministers.
- 1961–1962 Grégoire Kayibanda Parmehutu
- 1991–1992 Sylvestre Nsanzimana MRND
- 1992–1993 Dismas Nsengiyaremye MDR
- 1993–1994 Agathe Uwilingiyimana MDR · Killed on 7 April 1994
- 1994 Jean Kambanda MDR · Interim government; convicted of genocide by the ICTR in 1998
- 1994–1995 Faustin Twagiramungu MDR
- 1995–2000 Pierre-Célestin Rwigema MDR
- 2000–2011 Bernard Makuza MDR / independent
- 2011–2014 Pierre Damien Habumuremyi RPF
- 2014–2017 Anastase Murekezi PSD
- 2017–2025 Édouard Ngirente PSD
- since 2025 Justin Nsengiyumva PSD
The post did not exist from 1962 to 1991. Lists: Wikipedia (secondary).