Editing History of Rwanda (section)

== Independence (1962) ==
{{Infobox country
| conventional_long_name = Rwandese Republic
| common_name            = Rwanda
| native_name            = République Rwandaise ([[French language|French]])
| image_flag             = Flag of Rwanda (1962–2001).svg
| image_coat             = Coat of arms of Rwanda (1962-2001).svg
| symbol_type            = Coat of arms
| national_motto         = Liberté, Coopération, Progrès<br />(Liberty, Cooperation, Progress)
| national_anthem        = "{{lang|rw|[[Rwanda Rwacu]]|italic=no}}"<br />({{Langx|en|"Our Rwanda"}})<br />{{lower|0.2em|[[File:Rwandarwacu.ogg|center]]}}
| image_map              = Rwanda - Location Map (2011) - RWA - UNOCHA.svg
| capital                = [[Kigali]]
| languages              = 
| demonym                = Rwandan
| government_type        = [[Unitary state|Unitary]] [[One-party state|one-party]] [[presidential republic]]
| leader1                = [[Dominique Mbonyumutwa ]]
| year_leader2           = 1962–1973
| leader2                = [[Grégoire Kayibanda]]
| year_leader1           = 1961
| common_languages       = [[Kinyarwanda]] • [[French language|French]]
| title_leader           = [[List of presidents of Rwanda|President]]
| legislature            = [[National Assembly of Rwanda|National Assembly]]
| area_km2               = 26,338
| title_deputy           = [[Prime Minister]]
| year_deputy1           = 1961-1962
| deputy1                = Grégoire Kayibanda
| event_start            = [[Coup of Gitarama]]
| date_start             = 28 January
| year_start             = 1961
| event1                 = [[1961 Rwandan monarchy referendum|Deposition of King Kigeli V]]
| date_event1            = 1961
| event_end              = [[1973 Rwandan coup d'état]]
| date_end               = 
| p1                     = Kingdom of Rwanda
| s1                     = History of Rwanda#Military rule{{!}}Habyarimana régime
| p2                     = 
| status                 = [[Republic]] under [[Belgian colonial empire|Belgian colonial authority]] (1961)<br>Independent [[republic]] (1962-1973)
| year_end               = 1973
| HDI                    = 
| HDI_year               = 
| currency               = [[Rwandan franc]]
| today                  = [[Rwanda]]
}}

On 25 September 1961, a [[Rwandan monarchy referendum, 1961|referendum]] was held to establish whether Rwanda should become a [[republic]] or remain a [[monarchy|kingdom]]. Citizens voted overwhelmingly for a republic. After [[1961 Rwandan parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] held on the same day, the first Rwandese Republic was declared, with Kayibanda as prime minister. Dominique Mbonyumutwa was named the first president of the transitional government.

Between 1961 and 1962, Tutsi guerrilla groups staged attacks into Rwanda from neighboring countries. Rwandan Hutu-based troops responded, and thousands more were killed in the clashes.
On 1 July 1962, Belgium, with UN oversight, granted full independence to the two countries. Rwanda was created as a republic governed by the majority MDR-[[Parmehutu]], which had gained full control of national politics. In 1963, a Tutsi guerrilla invasion into Rwanda from Burundi unleashed another anti-Tutsi backlash by the Hutu government; their forces killed an estimated 14,000 people. The economic union between Rwanda and Burundi was dissolved and tensions between the two countries worsened. Rwanda became a Hutu-dominated one-party state. In excess of 70,000 people had been killed.{{Citation needed|date=January 2009}}

Kayibanda became Rwanda's first elected president, leading a government chosen from the membership of the directly elected unicameral [[National Assembly of Rwanda]]. Peaceful negotiation of international problems, social and economic elevation of the masses, and integrated development of Rwanda were the ideals of the Kayibanda regime. He established formal relations with 43 countries, including the [[United States]], in the first ten years. Despite the progress made, inefficiency and corruption developed in government ministries in the mid-1960s.

The Kayibanda administration established quotas to try to increase the number of Hutu in schools and the civil service. This effort ended up penalizing the Tutsi. They were allowed only nine percent of secondary school and university seats, which was their proportion of the population. The quotas also extended to the civil service. With unemployment high, competition for such opportunities increased ethnic tensions. The Kayibanda government also continued the Belgian colonial government's policy of requiring ethnic identity cards, and it discouraged "mixed" marriages.

Following more violence in 1964, the government suppressed political opposition. It banned the political parties [[UNAR]] and [[RADER]] and executed Tutsi members. Hutu militants used the term ''inyenzi'' ([[cockroach]]es) as a pejorative to describe Tutsi rebels for what was perceived as infiltrating the country. Hundreds of thousands of refugees moved to neighbouring countries.

The Catholic Church was closely involved with Parmehutu, and they shared local resources and networks. Through the church, the government maintained links with supporters in Belgium and Germany. The country's two newspapers supported the government and were Catholic publications.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dacb.org/stories/rwanda/kagame-1alexis/|website=dacb.org|access-date=2019-12-03|title=Kagamé, Alexis (B) }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Dictionary of genocide|last=Totten, Samuel.|date=2008|publisher=Greenwood Press|others=Bartrop, Paul R. (Paul Robert), 1955-, Jacobs, Steven L., 1947-|isbn=978-0-313-34641-5|location=Westport, Conn.|pages=33|oclc=213486443}}</ref>