a republic in central Africa: part of German East Africa from 1899 until 1917, when Belgium took over the administration; became a republic in 1961 after a Hutu revolt against the Tutsi (1959); fighting between the ethnic groups broke out repeatedly after independence, culminating in the genocide of Tutsis by Hutus in 1994; member of the Commonwealth from 2009. Official languages: Kinyarwanda, English, and French; Swahili is used commercially. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: Rwanda franc. Capital: Kigali. Pop: 12 208 407 (2017 est). Area: 26 338 sq km (10 169 sq miles)