Kigali

Kigali’s history traces back to the Kingdom of Rwanda as early as the 14th century, but the modern city was officially founded in 1907 as a German administrative outpost by Dr. Richard Kandt. After World War I, the city passed into Belgian control and remained a modest town of only 6,000 residents until 1962, when it was chosen as the capital of newly independent Rwanda due to its central location. In 1994, Kigali became the tragic epicenter of the Genocide against the Tutsi, sparked by the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana near the city's airport. Following the capture of the city by the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) on July 4, 1994, Kigali underwent a monumental transformation. Today, the city has evolved from its war-torn past into a highly organized, safe, and innovative metropolis, frequently recognized as the cleanest city in Africa.