The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

1945: King Mutara III proposes the abolition of the ubuhake, the pastoral
client contract, which he considers “inappropriate” and “inequitable”.
It is abolished in 1954. Shortly thereafter, the colonial administra
tion, in spite of itself, accepts the abolition of unpaid forced public
labour.
1946: Ruanda-Urundi becomes a UN trusteeship territory on October
27, with the Belgian League of Nations “mandate” becoming
a “trusteeship”.
1949: Mutara III comes out in opposition to whipping, to the great
displeasure of the colonial administration (a punishment for adult
men: they were beaten in public, often in front of their families).
He also, in 1958, states that the terms Hutu, Tutsi and Twa should
no longer appear on identity documents, school records, etc., that
all inhabitants of the country had only one name: “Rwandans”.
1950: The Vatican consecrates Rwanda to “Christ the King.”
These dates have had a profound impact on the fate of Rwanda and the
Rwandans, starting with the merger of Rwanda and Burundi; since each
was a separate nation with its own culture and traditions, that changed
everything. At least Rwanda and Burundi had languages which, while not
identical, were more or less mutually intelligible. But the annexation to
Congo completely destabilized Rwanda, in view of the completely different
cultures. The culture of Rwanda has been killed, and no people has
survived the death of its culture.
With the currents of independence flowing across Africa, including
Rwanda, King Mutara III Rudahigwa began to demand the independence
of his country.
1955: Belgium appoints J-P. Harroy as Governor of Ruanda-Urundi.
The latter will admit that he does not know Rwanda, and that he
has read only one book about the country.
1956: Rudahigwa demands complete independence and the end of
the Belgian colonial occupation. The same year, the Vatican appoints
André Perraudin, a Swiss, as bishop.
The Supreme Council of the country demands equal treatment for
European officials and Rwandans, according to the principle of
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