Belgium Forcibly Enthrones Mutara III Rudahigwa and Introduces Ethnic Identification Books

On 16 November 1931, during the colonial period under Belgian rule, significant changes occurred in Rwanda, including the forced enthronement of King Mutara III Rudahigwa and the introduction of ethnic identification cards that categorized individuals as Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa.

Key Details:

1. Enthronement of King Mutara III Rudahigwa:
   • The Belgian colonial authorities exiled King Musinga, the reigning monarch, to Kamembe, a location in the southern part of Rwanda.
   • King Mutara III Rudahigwa was then placed on the throne by the Belgian administration. His enthronement was not based on traditional Rwandan customs or popular support but was instead a move by the Belgians to exert control over the country by installing a more compliant ruler.
   • Mutara III Rudahigwa would later become more independent-minded and eventually sought to distance himself from Belgian influence, even publicly rejecting policies that further entrenched ethnic divisions.
2. Introduction of Ethnic Identification Cards:
   • In addition to enthroning a new king, Belgium introduced identification books that formally categorized individuals by their ethnicity: Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa.
   • These identification cards became a tool for administrative control and ethnic classification. It was the beginning of an institutionalized system that would later contribute to deepening ethnic divisions in Rwanda.
   • The introduction of these ethnic distinctions cemented a social structure that had previously been more fluid, but under Belgian rule, it became rigid and entrenched, with Tutsi viewed as the elite and Hutu as the majority population.
3. Impact of Belgium’s Policies:
   • The Belgian colonial administration’s policies were instrumental in shaping the modern Rwandan state. By forcibly enthroning a Christian king and categorizing individuals by ethnicity, Belgium laid the groundwork for tensions that would later manifest in violent conflict.
   • The Belgian government also favored the Tutsi population for administrative and educational roles, creating divisions between the Hutu and Tutsi communities, which were exploited for political control.
   • The ethnic identification cards would later be a critical factor in the 1994 genocide as they were used by perpetrators to identify and target Tutsi people for extermination.

Conclusion:

The events of 16 November 1931, with the forced enthronement of Mutara III Rudahigwa and the introduction of ethnic identification books, marked a pivotal moment in Rwanda’s colonial history. These actions solidified Belgian control over Rwanda and laid the foundation for future ethnic tensions that would have tragic consequences in the decades to come, culminating in the 1994 Rwandan Genocide Against Tutsi.