List of colonial governors of Ruanda-Urundi Facts for Kids

For residents of the subregion of Ruanda, see List of colonial residents of Rwanda. For residents of the subregion of Urundi, see List of colonial residents of Burundi.

Ruanda-Urundi (dark green) shown within the Belgian colonial empire (light green), 1935.

This article lists the European leaders who governed the area known as Ruanda-Urundi. This region is now modern-day Rwanda and Burundi. Ruanda-Urundi was once part of German East Africa. However, during World War I, Belgian forces took control of it.

After the war, the territory became a mandate under Belgium's care. Later, it became a United Nations trust territory. Belgium continued to manage it until 1962. In 1962, Rwanda and Burundi became independent countries.

German Rule: Early Leaders
Belgian Rule: New Administrators
See also

German Rule: Early Leaders

Germany was the first European power to control this region. They set up military districts to manage the land.

Military District of Ujiji: Commanders

These were the first commanders in the Ujiji military district. They were in charge of keeping order and managing the area.

Portrait	Name	Position	Took office	Left office	Notes
	Hans von Ramsay	Commander	May 1896	189?
	Heinrich Bethe	Commander	1898	February 1901

Military District of Usumbura: Leaders

The Usumbura military district also had its own commanders. They oversaw different parts of the territory.

Name	Position	Took office	Left office
Heinrich Bethe	Commander	1899	1902
Friedrich Robert von Beringe	Commander	August 1902	February 1904
Werner von Grawert	Commander	February 1904	June 1906

Military Residency of Urundi and Ruanda: The Resident

Later, the German administration combined the two areas into one "Military Residency." This was a single large region.

Portrait	Name	Position	Took office	Left office	Notes
	Werner von Grawert	Military Resident	1906	15 November 1907

On 15 November 1907, this large area was split. It became two separate civil residencies: Ruanda and Urundi.

Belgian Rule: New Administrators

Map showing the areas occupied by the Force Publique in German East Africa between September 1916 and June 1919.

During World War I, Belgium took control of Ruanda-Urundi. This marked the start of Belgian administration.

Territories South of Lake Victoria: Northern Ruanda

Belgian forces moved into different parts of the region. Here are the commanders for the northern areas.

Portrait	Name	Position	Took office	Left office	Notes
	Philippe Molitor	Commander of the Northern Brigade	April 1916	1916
	Armand Huyghé	Commander of the Northern Brigade	1916	1917

Territories East of Lake Kivu and Lake Tanganyika: Southern Ruanda and Urundi

The southern parts of Ruanda and Urundi were also under Belgian command.

Portrait	Name	Position	Took office	Left office	Notes
	Frederik-Valdemar Olsen	Commander of the Southern Brigade	May 1916	1917

Occupied East African Territories: Military Governors and Royal Commissioners

After the initial military takeovers, Belgium appointed higher-ranking officials. These leaders were in charge of the entire occupied region.

Name	Position	Took office	Left office
Charles Tombeur	Military Governor	April 1916	22 November 1916
Justin Malfeyt	Royal Commissioner	22 November 1916	May 1919
Alfred Marzorati	Royal Commissioner	May 1919	20 October 1924
Pierre Ryckmans	Acting Royal Commissioner	November 1921	July 1922

Ruanda-Urundi: Mandate and Trust Territory Leaders

Map of Ruanda-Urundi.

After World War I, Ruanda-Urundi became a "mandate" under the League of Nations, managed by Belgium. Later, it became a "trust territory" under the United Nations. These leaders were called Governors or Royal Commissioners.

Name	Position	Took office	Left office
Alfred Marzorati	Royal Commissioner	20 October 1924	28 August 1926
Pierre Ryckmans	Acting Royal Commissioner	15 November 1925	13 December 1926
Alfred Marzorati	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	28 August 1926	5 February 1929
Louis Postiaux	Acting Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	5 February 1929	4 July 1930
Charles Voisin	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	4 July 1930	18 August 1932
Eugène Jungers	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	18 August 1932	5 July 1946
Maurice Simon	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	5 July 1946	August 1949
Léo Pétillon	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	August 1949	1 January 1952
Alfred Claeys-Boùùaert	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	1 January 1952	1 March 1955
Jean-Paul Harroy	Governor and Deputy Governor-General of the Belgian Congo	1 March 1955	1960
Jean-Paul Harroy	Resident-General	1960	1 July 1962

On 1 July 1962, Ruanda-Urundi became independent. It split into two new countries: the Republic of Rwanda and the Kingdom of Burundi.

List of colonial governors of Ruanda-Urundi facts for kids

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