In the previous article in this series, we saw the pros and cons of the election process and the road to independence. In this article, the culmination of independence and the new dispensation will be realized with attendant contradictions. A new government was formed on October 26, 1961. This followed legislative elections endorsed by the new national assembly. Gregoire Kayibanda was elected President of the Republic. Belgium retained foreign affairs ministry to prevent the government from being in contact with what it termed the communist bloc. Aims of the new republic: defending territorial integrity, maintaining internal peace and public order as well as management of finances. ALSO READ: Why Government attempts at reconciliation with UNAR proved fruitless On January 14, 1962, Governor Jean-Pierre Harroy left the country on Gregoire Kayibanda’s request while Col Guy Logiest stayed in Kigali as a senior Belgian representative. One Regnier was appointed minister of foreign affairs. On Jean Pierre Harroy’s departure, Col Guy Logiest lacked protection. Etienne Davington, chief of staff in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs openly disapproved ofLogiest’s action. He felt Rwanda deserved another political and social solution. He opined that, like in Burundi, the monarchy could have been maintained as part of tradition. An acceptable social regime for the Hutu could also have been established. This was deemed too late. Enough damage had been done. Heated debates on the political, economic and administrative union of Rwanda-Burundi hit a snag. This was a preoccupation of the United Nations up to 1962. The UN General Assembly voted on a new resolution no. 1746 of June 7, 1962. Decisions were as follows: “In agreement with the administrative authority to repeal the trusteeship agreement of 13th December 1946 on Rwanda-Burundi, it has been decided that 1st July 1962 be the date for Rwanda-Burundi to become two independent and sovereign states.” ALSO READ: UN and Belgium’s contrasting approaches to Rwanda’s independence The UNAR party was to thereafter report that the final road to independence was marred by a resurgence of violence in Kibungo (in current-day Eastern Province), Gisenyi (Western Province) and Kibuye (Western Province). This was attributed to the Belgian army and PARMEHUTU. They hence regarded it as smuggled independence. The Belgian administration played a primordial role which led PARMEHUTU to power. Actual and potential sources of resistance were gradually destroyed and neutralized. On realizing that independence was inevitable, the colonial administration sought allies and organized a neo-colonial transition. The fact was that Belgian national interest prevailed over democratic values. The party tasked to form government did not expect independence soon. The deadline set by the trusteeship authority was difficult to respect. The inspection report of 1954 summarized the situation thus: “The Governor General considers that if the inhabitants of this territory can socialize well with other societies in three or four generations to come, it will play an important part in governing their country.” Rwanda was deemed to have been freed from the monarchy, described as Tutsi-based. However, a republic seen as Hutu-based replaced it. Independence terminated the trusteeship rule. Actors and structures changed. However, a divisive ideology and exclusive political system was established by the trusteeship authority. Leaders and supporters of PARMEHUTU embarked on what was termed a social revolution of 1959. There was Hutu ideological and organizational conspiracy.
